Parents, Get Involved!

By: Gary L. Hutchens

​   Parents get deeply excited and involved with what their children are doing in school. They make sure the children prepare for classes. They make sure the children never miss a class, a practice or an event. They are even there with them. They send their children to all kinds of clinics and training sessions, even at great cost.  

​   Parents provide their children with whatever they need to succeed in those areas, but then when it comes to God, things are different. If most parents could get as excited about spiritual things for their children as they do over those earthly things, we would see a real difference in the faith of our youth. “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
   What is your child studying in Bible Class? Do they have a book, and do they prepare for Bible classes? Do your children participate in youth devotionals? Do they attend summer Bible Camp? Do you study the Bible with them and talk about what is important?
   Parents, you push your children hard and pressure them to learn and participate in things that will last only a few short years. Why not push and pray and plead and train and lead in order to get them to heaven for eternity? How important is your child’s spiritual life to you? You young people who do not yet have children, you should prepare and plan now to have the focus on God when you are married with children!
BULLETIN DIGEST,  Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, Greenville, AL
 
Editor’s Note:
   I usually write my own bulletin articles, but as I read this one it hit on a theme that has concerned me for many years in my life as a preacher and elder.  God’s word tells us that “children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” (Ps. 127:3). 
   The author of the above article hit the proverbial nail squarely on the head.  As parents, the most important goal we should have for our children is to guide them into faith in God and Christ, and lead them down the path to an eternal home in Heaven.  (Matt. 7:13-14).
   As the above author noted, a great many parents give very close attention to their children’s academic, physical and social development, but not so much to their spiritual development.  They seem to focus more on their children’s grades and athletic abilities than on their souls.
   We should communicate to our children the importance of excelling in their educational training.  We should also encourage them to strive for excellence in any athletics they take up.  But we need to instill in their minds and hearts that those are only temporary pursuits related to life in this world, and their more important focus needs to be on serving God and looking forward to living with Him in Heaven for all eternity.
   Parents, put your main focus on your children’s souls…