December 3, 2009
This is a month for gift-giving, and it has prompted me to consider those gifts that a parent or educator can pass on to the next generation, both at home and at school. For the next several weeks, I will be focusing on these various gifts, how they can be given, and the impact they may have on a young life. Together, we will look at such precious commodities as a strong spiritual foundation, a love of learning and sense of adventure, an awareness of God-given talents and abilities, motivation and encouragement, and the ability to set realistic, but challenging, goals.
I start this series with the gift that matters most when equipping a boy or girl for life: a strong spiritual foundation. The giving of this gift is not dependent on whether you choose home school, Christian school or public school for their education. A strong spiritual heritage may be easier to convey while homeschooling, or reinforced in a Christian school, but the parent choosing the public school option must be, if anything, even more diligent about passing on the gift of foundational faith and a God-directed life.
What does the gift of a spiritual heritage look like? This foundation of the heart and mind is first a gift given by example. Children watch their parents and grandparents. They see the priorities of your life. They make note of the life principles that guide decision-making and personal ethics. Boys and girls understand the connection between words and action. So, a strong spiritual foundation is, first of all, offering your own life as a Christian model worth following.
Second, a firm foundation must be based on both knowledge of the Word of God and a sense of the working of God in human history. A faith based on feelings alone will not withstand the pressures that the next generation will need to overcome. There must be a working knowledge of what the Scriptures teach, and how that has been lived out by real men and women. Help your children to memorize essential verses. Discuss doctrines without fear. Challenge them to pick a pertinent topic and see what the Bible really says about it. Find resources that will acquaint your children with the martyrs, missionaries, preachers and workers of the past. Help your children understand that they are joining a long procession of faithful men and women.
Third, a spiritual foundation must include faith-building tools that can be used effectively long after you are no longer in the picture. I am referring to spiritual disciplines such as intercessory prayer and praise, cheerful giving of time and treasure, methodical study of God’s word, and the ability to witness effectively to others. To send out a child without these spiritual tools would be akin to sending a young person to war without armor or weapons.
I refer to your godly example, knowledge of the Word and God’s workings in history, and the spiritual disciplines as gifts because they truly can be given deliberately and purposefully to the next generation: your children and grandchildren.
This broadcast of Heartland Focus has been sponsored by the Tea and Gift Shoppe of Bemidji, who invite you to slow down and enjoy a cup of tea.