to learn the value of doing any job well if they do sloppy slip-shod work themselves. Guide the selection of friends Children need guidance in the se- lection of their friends. They cannot simply be told whom to associate with. They must be taught how to select the right kind of friends. Help them analyze the behavior of others and the result of that behavior. Help them understand that… “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” (Prov- erbs 13:20). And that “the righ - teous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Prov- erbs 12:26). It is important that parents get to know their children’s friends. Peer pressure is a powerful thing, and it can either be good or bad. The selec- tion of bad friends can have devastat- ing results. That is why God inspired Paul to record in I Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’.” Teach respect for authority Isaiah prophesied in Chapter 3 verses 4-5: “I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. The people will be op - pressed, everyone by another and every one by his neighbor; the child will be insolent toward the elder, and the base toward the honorable.”
God’s prophet said that ungodly lead- ers would be replaced by children and babes—meaning inexperienced
ing friends, family and neighbors— they will tend to grow up doing these same things. If a parent wants their child’s respect, they must live a life worthy of respect. In Ephesians 6:1-3 God instructs young people: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’” Everyone is commanded to “honor their parents” and to obey them. Of course, Christian children should not do anything sinful even if their par- ents should command them to. In such a case, children must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). Par- ents must ask themselves if they are teaching their children to be especial- ly courteous and patient with older people (Leviticus 19:32). Encourage them Every child’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated. If possible, it is important for parents to attend their children’s athletic contests, plays and recitals. Parents should spend two or three times more praising their chil- dren’s successes than criticizing their mistakes. If parents spend time com- plimenting their children regularly it will be easier for them to accept corrections when they come. Adults respond to encouragement in much the same way. When a workplace provides constant criticism without recognizing what is done well, the job can quickly become a grind. Proverbs 15:23 tells us: “A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!” Children need help to set, and achieve,
and incompetent leaders. This de- scribes a state of anarchy. This is not what God wants to see in the world let alone in His Church! Respect for authority is a fundamentally import- ant principle. Without respect for au- thority a child cannot learn from God, his parents or anybody else. From the earliest age Christians should begin teaching their children to respect them as parents. Deep down inside, children want to respect authority, but they need to know who is in charge, who has the authority. Children will often test their parents to see if they really mean what we say. And when they test, parents must let them know in loving firmness that they are very much in charge. Parents must teach that “yes” means “yes” and “no” means “no” with unwavering consistency. Respect- ful words like “Yes, sir” and “No, ma’am” flowing from the mouth of a young person reflect an attitude of honor and respect for authority. Train them to speak respectfully to you and others. If children see an adult having respect for others, see them being peacemakers, see them help-
4
A Good Report, Vol. 2 No. 3
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker