The Bible Way to Raise Our Youths

There is an evil pattern of behavior happening among our young people today that is causing so much concern to most Christian parents - it is the sad reality that our children, despite all the efforts we do in teaching them the Biblical standard of morality, the Christian youths are so weak to go against the influence of the world.

How many times have I heard many Christian parents saying out of desperation, “Where have we gone wrong? Maybe it is our fault?” You might be one of the parents who can relate to these statements, and some of you who are reading this may have also seen your parents feel the pain, frustrations, and heartaches because you know you are among the youths of today not having the will and the desire to fight against the evil influences of the world.

There is a hidden plot being orchestrated in this world to go against our children, especially the youths of today. This is an attempt to get our young people to lose their trust and confidence in authorities such as their parents, and to eventually lose their faith in God. And they seem to be winning grounds. 

Our text today gives us 3 Biblical ways to handle this downtrend:

1.“Thou affirm constantly.” - It means to be assertive of the truth and what is right.

Assertiveness is important to win the battle. It is the “effective and confident behavior to communicate what you believe is right.” You cannot assert yourself effectively without confidence in what you believe. Our young people are so perceptive that they know if we are confident with what we are saying. That happens when our words do not agree with our behavior. It also manifests when we try to raise our children for us and not for the Lord.

We cannot be confident if we allow our past to control us. Too often parents raise their children based on their past fears. Others raise their children based on guilt that they still carry from the past. These behaviors will undermine our effectiveness. It is because we are using our children to find healing in our past. This is a selfish approach and it will not effectively guide and raise our youths in the right way. I have heard this many times, “I do not want my children to go through what I went through.” Too often, this mindset will make us be overly protective and strict.

To be assertive is to raise our children based on what we know and believe is right; not because we are afraid or we want to protect them from what happened to us in the past. This is the right and pro-active way to train them. Past fears will make us reactive and these will add more stress and fear in the manner we tell them our instructions and expectations.

To be assertive is to “affirm constantly”, not only by words (that’s nagging), but by the way we express love through our actions and righteous behavior.  

2.“Careful to maintain good works” - Be sure to raise them with care and maintain doing good, whatever it takes. Not to show our righteousness but God’s righteousness.

When we try to be constant in affirming the Biblical and moral truths, be careful not to go back to the old ways. Remember not to react when our children go against it. Stay with the truth. t is not anymore about us. It is about our children and God! 

Our patience will be tried because there are strong and much more aggressive influences competing against us: the media, their peers, the world, and human nature. Remember, when we stay with God and His will, He will do the rest.

It is important that we “maintain” and stay focused on what is right. As parents, let us show them the behavior we expect to observe from them. This involves, not only by way of repeatedly reminding them to correct what they are doing wrong; but also constantly praising and thanking them every time they do right. This requires more time to be with them: spiritually, emotionally, and physically. They need to constantly see God’s righteousness through us. Otherwise, they will be influenced by their peers outside.

3.“These things are good and profitable” - Remain with what is good and profitable. Do not change if our children do not respond as expected. 

This is a battle of the wills. It’s either we remain strong doing what is right and maintaining it; or allow ourselves to be affected, frustrated, and quit.

It is effective and powerful to remain true to God and His will. Every time we do God’s will and His righteousness through our behavior, we plant seeds in their minds and hearts that will eventually germinate and grow as they mature. 

We are not raising our children to be free from problems and difficulties. We are here for them to know the Lord and to prepare them when we leave this world and to get them ready to face maturity and greater responsibilities. Sooner or later, they will be guided by the instructions they heard from us.

Conclusion:

Parenting is divine stewardship. As parents, God has chosen and has given us the blessed opportunity to take care of and nurture our children temporarily. We do not raise them to make us happy and comfortable. We raise them to please and serve God.

It is a big mistake and a sin when in the process of parenting we think of ourselves more than the Lord. They need to fear the Lord and be accountable to Him more than us. Let us get ourselves out of the way so they have a better view to realize that it is God they are now facing. They will never develop the fear of God if they only see us. This is the perspective of the world. We have a divine and eternal perspective. 

Victory is not only by seeing wonderful changes in the lives of the people we are trying to reach. All too often, we do not see the results immediately. But we can still praise God that we have planted in them seeds of righteousness that will someday grow and mature. 

True victory is when God’s message remains true in us. It is to remain faithful that despite trials and afflictions, we remain true to His word and never ever give up on what is right. It is not what we do that will change our youths, it is what God and His Word can do! Our job is to remain faithful and trust the process! 

It is sad to see many Christian parents giving up on God and His righteousness because they do not see the result of their labors on their children. Some begin to be bitter; while others decide to justify and excuse sinful behavior by sacrificing Biblical morality to please their children. We can only love our children when we truly love God.