Not long ago, my mother went home to be with Jesus. A few months before her passing, we sat together discussing the possibility of selling her home and land to find a place better suited to her needs. Later on, she told me she had decided against it; she wanted to ensure that the property remained as a heritage for my siblings and me. A wave of sadness washed over me—not because of her decision to keep the land, but because she didn’t realize the far greater legacy she had already given us. I gently explained to her that physical property wasn’t our true inheritance. Our real heritage was the godly foundation, principles, and living examples that she and my father had faithfully instilled in us since childhood.
Psalm 127:3 – 4 “Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.”
I love these verses and have heard them as far back as I can remember. Children are a heritage of the Lord. Let me first say to those of you who have no biological children, if God has given you an opportunity to pour your life into someone else’s children, this can apply to you, too!
A heritage is something that is given to you. It is a gift, not something you earn. Thus, children are a gift from God. He is the giver of life and the taker of life. Children are a way to keep our name alive on earth long after we are gone. However, it is more important that our testimony for the Lord is lived out in those he has given us. Therefore, we must make our testimony a testimony that is worthy of being passed down.
Other than salvation, there is no greater gift to any couple, than the life of a child they can pour themselves into. Unfortunately, we have allowed a sin-filled world to dictate the relationship of children to the family. God’s word on how we raise our children and who has influence in their lives should be our guide, not the world.
This devotion is to challenge you to think. To determine with God’s help if you are doing your best to shoot those arrows straight. None of us is a perfect parent, but we need to help one another to be better. We need to test ourselves, to ask ourselves the hard questions, to see where we can improve, for his glory, and for our children’s sake.
What is more important for our children, more toys, or more of Mom and Dad? More games won, or more souls won for Jesus? More Bible memorized, or the latest dance, pop song, or cheerleader routine? Don’t get me wrong, I know we must be in the world, but we are not to be of the world. I’m not opposed to ball games or activities that allow our children to be a light to other kids. I’m not opposed to activities that challenge children to be active and mentally alert, helping them learn how to use the abilities God has given them. I’ve bought my share of things and sat through more than my share of ballgames, but it should never take the place of the study of God’s word, or the attendance of services or activities at church.
There is a time and a place for all things that are not sinful. The problem is when we take that precious “heritage from the Lord,” and tell them God, and the things of God are the most important parts of our lives, but our actions show them something different, they believe the actions, not the words. When we miss church and skip devotions for activities or the quest for things, they will interpret those things as the most important to us. At that point, we make something good become sin.
Where does your excitement lie? Does your excitement about a ball game exceed your excitement about the church service? Do you feel like you are just putting in your time at church because that is what you are supposed to do? Do you wake on Sunday morning with the mindset of “I’d rather stay in bed?” Yet, you get up and go out of duty, and your actions and attitude reflect what you are feeling. Children pick up on exactly how we feel, and they know what is important to us. Even a toddler knows what you love and what excites you.
I’m not trying to be mean. My goal is to help you to see the big picture before it’s too late. I have lived through these kinds of decisions, and if the answer to any of these is yes, then you are in the wrong! You have not only done wrong yourself, but you have also influenced your precious child to do wrong. The gift that God gave you to raise in the “admonition of the Lord.”
In Ephesians 6:4, God gives this strict instruction to the father. Children are to be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. To nurture is to train, educate, instruct, and discipline. The word here means to train your child in a way that God approves of, not only what, but also how you are doing it. The word admonition means “a putting in mind.” We are to live in such a way as to put them in mind of the Lord. We should be teaching in our words and actions about His existence, His law, His mercy, His grace, and His desire to have a relationship with us. We need our children to understand God is holy and He expects us to live holy.
Ephesians 6:4 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
You are to influence them for eternal life with God. If you influence them for eternal life in Heaven, then they will have a good and successful life here. Maybe not by the world’s standards, but they will be happy and content, and God will be pleased.
Those arrows that the psalmist talked about in Psalm 127:4 are to be shot to hit the bull’s eye, not the edge or even the second ring of the target. Don’t make excuses so the flesh can be pleased. Your kids will see right through it, and emulate you in their walk. Walk worthy of the calling God has given you as a parent. Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. This is what you want to pass down to your children. With God’s help, it is possible to raise godly children, not just good kids. Please pray and ask God to help you keep the main thing, the main thing. If you have failed in this area, ask God to forgive you, and then ask your children to forgive you. God is big enough to handle it all if you will let him lead.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me. “
The reward for training your children in God’s way far exceeds any other reward this earth could offer. Mom and Dad, when your children serve God with all their hearts and then raise their children that way, you will feel a joy this world cannot match. Live in such a way that they see God in you!
