Title [5.7] How should I educate my children?
content should be?
(2 Chronicles 32:32-33:9)
Children's Day. Today's message is to share with you whether to raise your children as parents.
In this text, King Hezekiah, who was recognized as a great king in the history of Israel, appears. He ruled right and was a good king who knew how to pray for his people. When he fell ill and died, God saw his faith and extended his life by 15 years. He was a recognized king. But if there was one major failure in his life, it was the education of his children.
Manasseh, the son of King Hezekiah, was a king who, contrary to his father Hezekiah, worshiped all kinds of idols and did only evil in the sight of God. In the end, Manasseh was destroyed by the Babylonians because of God's wrath, and the people suffered the disgrace of losing their kingdom. The reason Manasseh had no choice but to fall was the influence of King Hezekiah.
First, Hezekiah was excessively fond of his late-bearing son and made him an idol.
Now that he saw his son at the age of over 40, you can imagine his attitude towards him. Because of excessive love for children, they became idols, and even if such a child made a mistake, they could not discipline him and ruined the child's life. Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” This means to teach in the right way and to give strict warnings about the way we should not go. If you love your children, you should not only cover them up, but also give them the Lord's education and admonition, rods and discipline.
Second, we failed to train with the Word of God.
Hezekiah failed to train his son Manasseh in the Word of God. Rather, it has changed into a form of worshiping idols through the story of many people saying that a good farmer must serve the gods of the sun, moon and stars well.
Here's something to remember. That is, it is important to be trained in the Word from an early age. A child's heart is pure, and they live their future based on what they saw and heard at that time. Remember Proverbs 22:6, “Teach a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Third, Hezekiah failed to set a religious example to his children.
When God gave Hezekiah another 15 years of life, he did not live a more humble and exemplary life, but rather became proud. The child born at that time was Manasseh. Manasseh grew up watching his father's proud and evil side for 12 years from a young age until his father died at the age of 54. Naturally, Manasseh's appearance resembled his father, and he had no choice but to commit evil acts.
Look at your children. Children are very good at imitating adults. They also imitate the bad more than the good. What kind of image are you showing your children? Are you living before God in your perfect form? If you want your children to grow up right, first show them the real life.
In the name of the Lord, I pray that you will live a life as a good parent who does not try to teach only worldly knowledge, but educates with the word of God, and sets an example by the way of life, not just words .