Parents usually prepare gifts for their children since the International Children's Day, which falls on June 1, is coming, but what is the best gift?
Many Chinese parents believe that the best gift is to guarantee their children get high grades in school, because it ensures good jobs in the future.
Wanting the best for their children, parents strive to send them to the best schools and after-school classes. They desire to give the best and most important thing to their offspring. But what is the first thing in children's development?
The Bible offers a lot of teachings to parents, such as, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." (Proverbs 22:6) Parents should train their children to walk on the straight path.
What does "the way he should go" refer to? It's good if a child plays the piano well, but it is not that bad if he can't; it's nice if a child draws well, but it is not death to him if his parents can't provide conditions for drawing. However, it will be hard to turn a child who goes astray back if parents fail to instruct him with truth! A large percentage of Christian parents send their children to learn music, art and dancing on Sundays. Fearing that their children may lose at the starting line, we offer them the best, but the Bible asks us if it is the most important thing. It's true that learning things is good for them, but don't squeeze out the time for services.
The Bible records that Samuel achieved a remarkable career, but it was too late to pass it down to his children. He was a warning to parents. Pray that the Lord calls our attention to realize that the paramount thing is to guide children before God. On the other hand, being good examples of faith is the best gift for your children.
A theologian once said that a good example, not money or things, is the best gift parents can offer to their children. Families, the basic units of society, are the first schools for people. Similarly, parents are the first teachers for their children.
An old Chinese saying goes like this: "Example is better than precept," and a Western proverb says, "Actions speak louder than words." Christians need to be examples of faith to their children. Parents need to upgrade themselves in terms of loving the Lord, prayer, and Bible reading.
A student once stole his classmate's pen at school and was discovered by his teacher. The teacher took him home and told his parents to educate him. Then his father asked him, "Why did you steal a pen since I have given you so many pens from my workplace?" The father stole pens from his place of work and the son stole at school. Like father, like son. It's a dilemma and I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
The Lord Jesus loved children so much that he let them come to him and blessed them. At the same time, he urged parents to bring their children to God and not to hinder them. We should not only bring children to the Lord, but also teach them with God's word, especially by being good examples of faith. Parents should be humble and show many good qualities favored by the Lord of children.
(The author is a preacher from Jieyang, Guangdong.)
Translated by Karen Luo
