Good Morning! 2010.06.29 - Psalm 119:9,11 - Training Children

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalm 119:9,11)

To ask this question is to presuppose that a young man's way is defiled and in need of cleansing. No need to wash your hands if they're not dirty. If you don't know if your hands need washing, they probably do.

The little new-born baby in the hospital nursery is cute as a button and is also self-centered. Just wait until he gets beyond saying "da-da" and learns to assert himself to get his way. If you are not prepared for that it can wreck your life.

At my house when our children began to walk and reach for things, we moved most of the "untouchables" up higher or packed them away. But on purpose we left one or two things within reach to teach them not to touch them. A light smack on the back of the hand was usually all it took. No, we did not break their little arms or bruise their hands. In the beginning of the "no-no" contest I saw them try several times to have their way. They knew what they were doing.

A pat on the hand, tear-up, and immediately reach out again. A contest of their will against the will of the parent. By the way, parents are not designed to be buddies with their children. God made them to be parents and the child does not need a buddy-parent. The child needs a loving, firm, consistent parent.

And then came the time when the child would look around to see if anyone was in the room before touching or grasping a forbidden item. They knew it was forbidden; that's why they looked around to see if they were being watched. It was not about shelf items. It was about teaching submission to authority. This is one of the most important things a child ever learns.

If you don't teach submission to authority when children are toddlers, it will cost a lot more if their prison guard has to teach them. It is also costly if the child ignores the voice of the parent and rushes into the street in front of a car. Some children will not heed the voice of the parent and have to be put on a leash attached to the arm of the parent.

Our text today reveals that as a child grows up into the years of independence, there is a great need for the Word of God to be in the heart. God tells us:

The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. (Psalm 58:3)

We are further warned that There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2Timothy 2:22)