The Way They Should Go

Proverbs 22:6 is ageless wisdom for all of us ... "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."  The Message says it like this ... "Point your kind in the right direction - when they are old they won't be lost."  Whichever way you say it, both of these passages remind us of the Biblical call to plant truth, direction, values, and goodness into the hearts of our kids.  We have been (1st Service) singing a song called "We Bear Witness."  The chorus of the song says, "Pass the promise to your sons and daughters, God Most High, God our Father, we bear witness."  The passages and the song say the same thing ... we, are responsible for teaching and leading our children.

There are (at least) 3 truths evident in the Proverbs 22:6 instruction.  The first is TRAIN.  If you are a parent, grandparent or educational person, you have the call and the responsibility to train those children that come your way.  In a world where it is too easy to place kids on 'automatic' and hope they turn out ok, the Bible says TRAIN.  If you have been involved in athletics, decided to earn a degree, or even strived for a good grade in a class, all of these things involve the work of training.  The amount of effective work you are willing to do is directly related to the results you will get from that work.  In education you study.  In athletics you target your exercise and workouts to the activity you are preparing for.  In life (if you are Christian) you study and seek God's way/direction.  It is one of the reasons early Christians were called "People of the Way."  Training is important.

The second truth is DIRECTION.  We work, study and train ... but we do this in a direction that is proper and right.  Nick Saban (football coach at Alabama) would sum up his coaching philosophy in some very small steps.  The first (after proper exercise, conditioning, muscle-prep) might be "Know your job."  We know what to do by learning the job.  In football this means becoming a clean slate so that good teaching and techniques can take hold.  In life, we must be willing to learn what actually works.  Peers, social media, political groups and ranting people will always have their 'sage' advice to bring you to their side.  But God does have a plan and an opinion.  Proverbs calls this "the way they should go."  It is to be taught, modeled and led by parents, teachers and leaders who want to teach children "their job" as Christians and good citizens.  Know your job/DIRECTION.

The third truth is APPLICATION.  We teach and train and give direction so that our children will 1) remember and 2) not be lost.  In educational and medical circles this is called "good outcomes."  In education it is called achievement.  In life it is called (by Jesus) "abundant life."  Jesus professes the importance of education when he says (Matthew 11:29), "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me."  TRAIN, RECEIVE DIRECTION ... so that (John 10:10), "you might have life, and have it to the fullest."

We TRAIN to learn.  We follow DIRECTION so that our training leads us to know our task.  We APPLY what we have learned because it is good for us and our children.  We 'pass the promise to our sons and daughters' so that when they are old, they won't be lost.  This is God's plan ... What is yours?  Randy