Give children convictions to live by

If you’re a parent, are you trying to keep your children under lock and key in order to keep them out of trouble? Or if you’re a teacher or Sunday school leader, do you try to impose strict rules? It won’t work. You’re not keeping them out of trouble; you’re simply postponing it. Things like curfews, dress codes, phone use, and checking up on their friends are part of good parenting and good teaching. But when you are not around to guide them, they need sound principles to live by.

And those principles can be found in God’s Word: ‘These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.’ (Deuteronomy 6:6–9 NIV)

Isn’t it interesting that each succeeding generation views the previous one as old-fashioned and out of date? And that’s not all bad. Every generation believes there is a better way to do things, and that is the foundation for progress. That’s why getting from Tonga to Rarotonga takes only a few hours by plane instead of a week by sailing boat. God’s Word can stand the test of scrutiny. So, instead of shutting them down, invite children to ask questions and challenge assumptions, then help them arrive at solid Scriptural convictions to live by. As someone who cares for children, there is no greater gift you can give them.