Jump Start # 1774

Psalms 127:4 “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.”

 This week we have been sharing some thoughts about parenting. We need as much help and godly direction as we can get. The home is under attack. The core definitions of marriage, life and love are being rewritten by moderns who have O.D. on liberal theology.

Our passage comes from a section in which God reminds us that children are His gift to us. They are a reward and as our verse states, they are like arrows in the hands of a warrior. Under attack, it’s the arrows that a warrior would turn to.

There are a couple of immediate thoughts here for parents.

First, arrows are intended to be shot at a target. If you just randomly shoot arrows in the sky, you’ll likely get hurt yourself and damage someone’s property. You aim. You aim at a target. We remember that the sin is described as missing the mark (Rom 6:23). God had an intended target for us to hit and sin causes us to miss that. I know many that deer hunt with bow and arrow. You hit what you aim at. That is the first thought for parents from this passage. What are you aiming at with your kids? Is it getting them out of the house? Is it getting them off your payroll? Is it getting them married so you can have bunches of grandbabies? Is it getting them rich? Whatever the target is, there are costs to pay and sacrifices to make in order to meet those goals. For some, excelling in sports means, missing church services. That’s a cost that they are willing to pay. A college scholarship is what the family is aiming at.

God reminds us that the target we should really be aiming at is bringing them up in the instruction of the Lord. This target is about God. This target invites God. This target includes God.

• If he is an athlete, he will honor God on and off the field. He will respect coaches, play fair and be a good winner or loser.
• If he is a student, he will honor God in the classroom. He will work honestly, hard and not cheat.
• If he is employed, he will honor God at the jobsite. He will work as if for the Lord. He will use his money in godly and generous ways.
• If he is married, he will honor God through his mate. He will be forgiving, patient and caring.
• If he is a parent, he will raise his children to know and walk with the Lord.

You hit what you are aiming at.

Second, the warrior can only hit the target if he is skilled and knows what he is doing. The most expensive arrow, finely crafted, will miss the target if the archer doesn’t know what he is doing. The direction of the arrow depends upon the archer, that’s you, parents. It’s not the job of the church to do what you are supposed to do. What happens at church and what happens at home ought to compliment each other. There shouldn’t be two different messages. More importantly than the GPA or the MVP is the G.O.D. What good is it if the child has a PhD but denies the existence of God? What good is it if he becomes a superstar but lives like a selfish thug that takes advantage of others? What good is it if he gives you tons of grandkids but he can’t keep married? What if he gains the entire world and loses his soul?

Our target must be a godly character that imitates Jesus Christ. You get there by aiming at that. You get there by talking about that. You get there by showing the value of worship. Sunday is the best day of the week. You show them what is important in life. You show them how to respond to disappointments, discouragements and difficult times. You do this by taking them to weddings and funerals. You take them to visit folks in the hospital and nursing homes. You get them busy drawing pictures for the senior citizens. You take them along to the neighbors house to shovel snow. You show them how to use money wisely, saving some, giving some and spending some. You teach them manners and respect. You have prayers at the table and Bible readings in the evening. You talk and talk and talk. You are aiming at a specific target.

Mom and dad must spend time looking in God’s word about parenting. Understand how to use the bow and the arrow. Talk to older Christians. Find out what works and what doesn’t work.

And what does the target look like when it has been hit? Across this country I can tell you about families that have walked, worshipped and worked in God’s kingdom for generations. Your grown kids may not live near you, but you know where they are on a Sunday. They are in the house of God worshipping. They may be teaching classes. They may be leading the congregation in songs. They may be preaching God’s word. They are busy now raising their own children. They have taken hold of the Lord and they will not let go. They are helping churches. They are leading people to Christ. Their names are being suggested as deacons and shepherds of God’s people. The parent sees this with great joy. He knows that it really wasn’t his effort, but God’s that made all the difference. He simply pointed the arrows at a target and let them sail through the air.

This is what we want as parents. Our children to be grown, spiritual, faithful to Christ and busy in the kingdom. To use their talents in ways that we would never believe. As we parents age, and realize that we are getting closer to the end of our journeys here, it is with great satisfaction to know and see that our children are carrying on the love of the Lord. In many ways, they are doing things better than we did.

Arrows in the hands of a warrior. Set your sights on Heaven. Aim high. Let them fly.

Roger