“…his wives turned his heart after other gods…” – 1 Kings 11:4 (NKJV)
As parents, God admonishes us to train up our children (Proverbs 22:6). A child needs training. The parent’s job is not to simply ensure they eat, get an education, and grow in any way, but to train their child or children in the way they should go. Being present and intentional is an imperative aspect of being a parent. It speaks of discerning a child’s strengths and weaknesses and parenting in a way that considers them. According to Emmanuel Abimbola, “To fully comprehend the gravity of this responsibility, one must first recognise that children are like sponges, absorbing the values, behaviours, and attitudes displayed by their parents. Therefore, a parent’s conduct serves as a living testament to the moral and ethical principles of Christ.”
Dr. Ross Campbell, psychiatrist and author of the book ‘How to Really Love Your Child,’ says that he has never treated an adolescent involved in sexual misconduct who felt loved by their parents. Question: How much of yourself do you give to the child you brought into the world?
It is the role of parents to understand that each child has gifts and talents God has placed in them. The true business of training a child, therefore, is that of discovering what those gifts and talents are and developing them. Note that no two children are alike. When children are trained properly, though they may depart for a season, they can return. King Solomon’s own life is an example of the Proverb that this is a principle and not an absolute promise (Proverbs 22:6). Solomon stopped listening to instructions and strayed from knowledge.
Scripture reveals that Solomon, for a while, did not walk with God. How could this be? How could such an exceptionally wise man, a man who wrote Scriptures (Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes) and built the temple of God, go wrong? He had departed from his father’s David training. Scripture tells us his wives turned his heart away from God (1 Kings 11:4).
As parents, we must teach our children that those they spend time with can change their hearts and attitudes toward God. They can cause their hearts to drift away from Him, and then God will have to discipline them. Teach them to remain steadfast in the Lord and never drift away from Him like a boat away from the harbour into the rough sea.
Read: Proverbs 19:27; Ezekiel 18:20Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 59:1-8; John 6:25-59; Judges 10; Judges 11
