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"All these were the children of Asher, heads of their fathers' houses, choice men, mighty men of valor, chief leaders." 1 Chronicles 7:40.
What kind of generation are we training? Are we preparing our children to be leaders of their households? Are we raising choice men and women? Are our sons learning to become mighty men of valor, chief leaders, and our daughters dignified women of virtue, for "an excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10.
I am sorry to say that we, for the most part, have relinquished the training of our children to an effeminate society.
Yet God never entrusted the training of children to society. He commanded parents, "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." Deuteronomy 6:7.
We have allowed there to be a blending of the sexes, compromising the integrity of each. Men are commanded, "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13. Women are instructed to be "reverent in behavior" and to teach the younger women to love their husbands and children. Titus 2:3-4.
God's design was never confusion, but order.
To our shame, fathers have relegated their duties to soccer coaches and youth leaders. Yet Scripture declares, "The father shall make known Your truth to the children." Isaiah 38:19. Fathers are to bring up their children "in the training and admonition of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4. The responsibility for raising godly sons and daughters rests first in the home.
Mothers likewise have traded their high office for lesser positions outside the home. The influence of a godly mother is beyond measure. Older women are instructed to teach younger women "to be homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." Titus 2:5.
No institution can replace the influence of a godly mother.
Therefore, instead of raising choice children, we are leaving our children to their own choice. Yet "foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child." Proverbs 22:15. Furthermore, "a child left to himself brings shame to his mother." Proverbs 29:15.
Children are not naturally wise. They must be taught, trained, corrected, and encouraged in the ways of God. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6.
One generation is called to declare God's mighty acts to another generation, for "one generation shall praise Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts." Psalm 145:4.
That sacred responsibility cannot be delegated without consequence.
They are children. Left to their own devices, they will follow the spirit of the age rather than the wisdom of God. For some, it may be too late. Maybe, just maybe, it is not too late for you and your house. Determine today, as Joshua did, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15.
The next generation will not rise above what this generation is willing to model. Let us raise sons who are mighty in faith and daughters who are rich in virtue, so that it may once again be said of our children that they are choice men, mighty men of valor, chief leaders.