For God's Sake

I remember a book title concerning children which compared them to wet cement because they are very impressionable.  They are incredibly observant learners, and many times a parent has been appalled by their own foul language echoing from the mouths of their children!  Words have flowed from our lips with great ease that grated upon our ears when repeated by our little ones.  Without going to school or preparing for an exam, children can be greatly influenced by those closest to them for good and ill.

God's design for parents is they would be responsible to teach their children of God and His ways.  This relevant principle for today was communicated by Moses in Deuteronomy 6:6-7:  "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. ⁷ 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."  Parents are called to be diligent to teach their children by example, to instruct them concerning God and His righteous character, and to illuminate the way of salvation by faith in Jesus.  There are some who think it improper to impose a Christian worldview upon a child, but to shrink from this God-given responsibility is great folly when we know in Jesus alone is truth, love and life.  C.H. Spurgeon is quoted as saying, "Whether we teach young Christians truth or not, the devil will be sure to teach them error.”

When God led His people into the land of Canaan He promised to give them as an inheritance, He commanded they obey God to destroy the inhabitants "...lest they teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have done for their gods, and you sin against the LORD your God." (Deuteronomy 20:18)  Should the heathen remain in the land of their inheritance, those under God's judgment would have a corrupting influence upon God's people and future generations who would adopt their sinful ways.  Sin always leads to more sin, and successive generations tend to drift further from the fear of God.  As I considered this, it led me to believe there is a person who sees the risk of sinful influences for themselves, and others who would be more apt to take action for the sake their children.  They don't believe they will fall prey to idolatrous practices (or could be corrupted even by indulging in them), but they take seriously the protection of their own children and keeping up appearances.

I have observed occasions where a husband and wife remain in a marriage relationship "for the children."  Though their bonds of love have been broken and their relationship seems unsalvageable, it is agreed enduring the paper-thin veneer of marriage would provide the best environment for the sake of their children.  When it comes to putting away sinful conduct or labouring to restore a loving marriage, shouldn't we do this--not for the children--but primarily for God's sake because we love Him?  We should obey God first because we fear, trust and love Him; we should repent of our sins and protect our children from harm so God would be glorified.  I wonder how many things we do for others, our children or ourselves which would be best done with God in mind for His sake.  Colossians 3:23-24 rings in my ears on this topic:  "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."