Ok. This is my serious face. Look at me. I am tired of seeing spoiled, self-centered, entitled children verbally berate their parents publicly. I am tired of seeing children make demands and commands to their parents. But even more, I am tired of seeing these parents comply. I am tired of seeing well-intentioned parents do flips to keep little Johnny happy.
Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!
It’s time you teach little Johnny what is right. Teach him to obey his parents. Teach him to have respect. Teach him to have kindness. Teach him to be compassionate.
Adults that walk like Jesus don’t just pop out at high school graduation. No, those kind of people are cultivated from their youth. They are grown from home.
Loving, God-fearing parents do this:
Bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. Eph. 6:4
But how?
Stop answering their beck and call as if you are the on-call doctor. Make them work around the house. Make them part Team Family.
Teach them your place
You are not the maid, personal shopper or dream-maker for your child. You have been placed, by God, in a position of authority over your child to train, guide and guard them into all righteousness.
God takes this VERY seriously.
The eye that mocks a father and despises a mother’s instructions will be plucked out by ravens of the valley and eaten by vultures. Prov. 30:17
Teach them their place
Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. Ps. 127:3
God intends our children to be a gift, a reward and a blessing. How come some children feel more like a curse? Well, that’s because they haven’t been taught their purpose or shown their place.
Teach them how to serve
The whole purpose of being alive isn’t to climb the corporate ladder or live your wildest dreams. No, the whole reason God made people was for them to love other people.
We have to show our children that if they want to find true freedom it comes from serving other people. That starts at home by doing the dishes, taking out garbage and cleaning toilets.
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Gal. 5:13-14
Teach them work has reward
“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.” -Jesus
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