The Value Of Early Training (Part 2)

by J.K.D. Johnston, Musselburgh, Scotland | Category: The Value Of Early Training | Jun 1988

We live in a day when so many are growing up without even an elementary knowledge of the Bible. We must ensure that our own families and the young persons who come within our sphere of influence are instructed in the sacred Writings and made aware of their authority and value.

It is so important that the influence of the Word of God is exerted on young lives. A statistical sampling of any group of Christians will reveal that the majority of them were saved early in life. As a person grows older the heart becomes hardened by the deceitfulness of sin and is harder to reach with the gospel.

Family life has its joys and its sorrows, but children in a Christian home are a valuable asset. The psalmist makes this point effectively in the imagery used in Psalm 127:3-5:

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:

And the fruit of the womb is His reward

As arrows in the hand of a mighty man,

So are the children of youth.

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.

There is value in reflecting on the illustration used in this psalm. The arrows of the mighty man will serve his purpose only if they have been carefully prepared initially and given the right direction when they are eventually sent out from his hands with his bow. The analogy is apt and underlines the care that should go into preparing young lives and giving them an aim and purpose in life that will be God glorifying.

Fathers are exhorted to bring up their children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4 AV). Although fathers are specifically addressed, the work is the joint responsibility of both parents, for the influence exerted by the mother in this work is of incalculable value. Nurture (chastening RV, Greek - paideia) is defined by Thayer as "the whole training and education of children which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose, now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment". Of admonition (Greek nouthesia) Trench says "it is the training by word - by the word of encouragement, when this is sufficient, but also by that of remonstrance, of reproof, of blame, where these may be required; as set over against the training by act and by discipline, which is paideia".

Discipline is not popular in the present day and society is reaping the bitter fruits of its neglect in the spirit of lawlessness that is much in evidence. Let us not be influenced by current trends, but give heed to the counsel of Scripture. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews reminds us that because we are His sons God chastens us in His perfect knowledge of what is best for us, and by implication commends a father's chastening of his children (Heb. 12:5-11). The Scripture provides us with examples of fathers who failed to exercise discipline at an appropriate time and witnessed the resulting baneful effects. Eli failed in the disciplining of his sons, and that failure had disastrous consequences for Israel (1 Sam. 3:13; 4:21). David was over-indulgent with his son Adonijah (1 Kin. 1:6) and that weakness on David's part was a factor in Adonijah's waywardness and caused dissension in Israel.

It is true that some godly fathers have had unworthy sons, and unworthy fathers have had worthy sons, and it is not always easy to explain why, but there is no doubt that the influences exerted in the early years of a person's life have a profound effect. It is interesting to note that the name of the mother is frequently given in the scriptural biography of many of Judah's kings, for a mother's influence is very great.

Samuel was greatly used by God in bringing about a revival in Israel, but that work of God in Israel began with Hannah's tears and prayers and her exercise before the Lord (1 Sam. 1:27,28).

J.K.D. Johnston, Musselburgh, Scotland | Jun 1988
The Value Of Early Training