Text:       Proverbs 22:6, 2 Samuel 18:32

By:          Bro. MARVIS KAINE

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The safety of every child is of utmost importance to every parent when God blesses them with one. To loss a child will fill the life of a parent(s) with perpetual tears or sorrow. Today, our admonition is drawn from the question once ask by King David in 2 Samuel 18:32 – is the young man safe. Many parents today need to ask this same question David asks.

There is a terrible truth to be learned from this tragedy: a parent can wait too late to inquire about the wellbeing of his child. David could not go back and do things differently with his son.

In training and raising a child parents are given only one chance. While they are young parents must do their part well. Nothing must be left to chance. A church cannot be said to be mature when the individual families that make up the church is spiritually immature. The enemy Satan is aware of this and has declare war on the family. The home is in trouble. Satan has two specific goal in this war on the family.

To effectively sever a husband relationship with his wife. Which can either be physical or emotional and or; To destroy the relationship between parents and their children. Which can also be physical or emotional.

The survival of every family in this war depends on the leadership of each family. Many family have been lost because leaders (parents) of such family failed to anticipate an ambush. Our enemy Satan is skilled and very cunning and relentless. Yet if we pay close attention to our heavenly commander in chief, we can avoid many of the moral ambushes common in this life. Beloved the war is against your family and mine and if you doubt that there is no war against the family, its high time you know and the casualty of this war on the family is the children.

The enemy cannot kill a family without dividing the husband and wife, so that is where he puts his efforts. And it is working. It’s a strategy that’s been around for thousands of years. It’s called divide and conquer. But there is a flip side to the story. When a husband and wife refuse to allow anything to divide them, they become an impregnable force in the war on the family.

When emotional energies are not spent on fighting one another, they can then be used constructively … to build up their children. The enemy is not pleased when you are giving spiritual direction to your children and The enemy will use anything to alienate

you from your children. Even a “passion for excellence.” it can be your job, business or anything you have passion for. The lesser the time spent with your children, the less influence you will have on them.

If you are going to save your children in this war, you have to be with them physically. Most parent usually have 2 or 3 hours a day to spend with their children. That time must be used wisely if we are going to influence our children. One man who did not use the time wisely tells his story.

I remember talking to my friend a number of years ago about our children. Mine were 5 and 7 then, just the ages when their daddy means everything to them. I wished that I could have spent more time with my kids but I was too busy working. After all, I wanted to give them all the things I never had when I was growing up. I love the idea of coming home and having them sit on my lap and tell me about their day.

Unfortunately, most days I came home so late that I was only able to kiss them good night after they had gone to sleep. It is amazing how fast kids grow. Before I knew it, they were 9 and 11. I missed seeing them in school plays. Everyone said they were terrific, but the plays always seemed to go on when I was traveling for business or tied up in a special conference. The kids never complained, but I could see the disappointment in their eyes.

I kept promising that I would have more time with them next year. Suddenly they were no longer 9 and 11. They were 14 and 16. Teenagers. Don’t ask where the years have gone. Those little kids are 19 and 21 now and in college. I can’t believe it. My job is less demanding and I finally have time for them. But they have their own interests and there is no time for me. To be perfectly honest, I’m a little hurt. (Culled from The Point Man by Steve Ferrar).

Is He hurt? How do you think his kids felt growing up? Gentlemen, the point is this. We have a limited amount of time with our children. How much time do you have left?

Recall the strategy to destroy the relationship between parents and can be either physically or emotionally. A parent or parents can be physically present in the home, but the great danger is that they will be emotionally distant from his children. Many parents do not know what is going on in their child’s life. And this what the enemy want and the resulting effects on the casualty of these war are;

• Increasing numbers of drug addict
• Alarming loss of life of young people to cultism related gang war
• Increasing number of young person’s involving in cyber crimes
• Increasing numbers of young person’s involving in ritualism
• Increase in Prostitution
• Rape
• Kidnapping
• Drunkenness
• Disrespect for elders and constituted authorities
• Mental illness
• Increasing rate of suicide so many but a few to mention.

The fight is on. Is your child safe? What are you doing to Keep your child off the casualty list?

Many parents believe that it is the church that will teach the children Bible and lead them to Christ. It is not true.  The truth is that many parents have neglected the establishment of some important Christian value or habits in the home. It has always been God’s plan for parent to teach their children to love the lord and to follow Him. Duet 6:6-7;

6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by  the way, when you lie down, and when you rise  up. 

Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. 

 Apostle Paul commended Timothy for knowing the word of God from childhood. II Tim 3:15; and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

It is the parent’s fault if your child knows little of the Lord or his word. Many parents have the misunderstanding that it the church that will teach their children the Bible.

If parents compromise with the world and undermine the teaching of the Bible in the home, the result can be disastrous.

The home is where children are won. They will become what you train them to be. Psm 127:4 says; “as arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of your youth”

Also Proverbs 22:6 – train up a child in the way he should go and even when he is old he will not depart from it.  Parents help decide the direction your children will take.

The home influence can be detrimental. Today, the influence of the home is not what it should be because if it were we would not be losing so many of our young people. Parents are not wicked, on the contrary they are pleasant. It is the lack of involvement, negligence and inconsistent living that sets in motion the insidious influence that results in the loss of their children.

Last week the death of a girl that was killed by her twelve years old boyfriend made the news headlines. Another was a 26 years old lady caught have sex with a 13 years old boy in his parents house or is it the 12 boys caught and arraigned for internet fraud or the two children under ten years old caught on camera having sex at the backyard of a compound.

King David lost his son Absalom because he neglected the boy and he set a bad example for his son.

Whatever you sow as a parent you will reap it in the life of your children – Exodus 20:5; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.  For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, Num 14:8.

Children you see are likely going to be like their parents. one thing that would be worst than hearing our Lord say to your child at judgment “Depart from me” would be for your child to turn to you and say, But Dad, mom, I followed your example. The home with the right  influence will win your child but first it should be a home or place where love dwells.

Secondly, the home should be a place of firm discipline. Parental discipline prepares the heart of the child to become Christian. It is from the father and mother that the child first learn respect for authorities and obedience unto law. A child who is spoiled and undisciplined and who does not obey his parents will not want to obey God.

The scripture urges parents to discipline their children- Proverbs 19:18; chasten thy son, seeing there is hope and set not your heart on his destruction. Loving your child is to discipline him- Proverbs 13:24 He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him discipline him promptly.

Discipline helps children to become wise and not disciplining your child will bring shame to such parents- Proverbs 29:15 the rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

Thirdly the home should be a place where the family worship daily. And also a place of Christ-like living. If we are to save our children, parents must give them a demonstration of Christianity in their own lives. When parents constantly show forth the spirit of Christ in their life experiences, they create impression on their children which are never forgotten.

When parents love the Lord, their neighbors and even their enemies; when they return good for evil and pray for those that despitefully use them; when they turn the other cheek and go the second mile; the children come to know and understand the spirit of Christ.

Also when parents attend every worship service of the church, the children come to know the importance of worship and Bible study. When parents are deeply involved in the work of the kingdom, the children come to appreciate its value and their entrance into the kingdom in due time will be sure as night follows the day.

Conclusion

Dearly beloved, neglecting your children will bring about a great consequence and the parents is the best leader to bring the child to God as it is their God given responsibility.

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