1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,520
Day 187, or July 6. Preparation for the future.

2
00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:14,360
Our thoughts today are rooted in Proverbs chapter 22 verse 6. Start children off on

3
00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:21,760
the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.

4
00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:26,260
First the big picture surrounding this verse. We come to the end of the second section of

5
00:00:26,260 --> 00:00:33,200
Solomon's Proverbs with chapters 22 to 24. Possibly some of the most misunderstood and

6
00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:40,360
often misquoted words come from these Proverbs about the raising of children. Even in Solomon's

7
00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:46,080
days children misbehaved, and when you consider there were folk who actually offered their

8
00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:54,000
children as sacrifices to pagan gods, all the disciplining advice seems very gentle.

9
00:00:54,000 --> 00:01:01,040
This strategy is long-term. It is foundational, not reactionary. Children are not possessions

10
00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:07,680
but individuals who are loved by God and who God trusts us to raise to the best of our

11
00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:12,080
ability, with His help.

12
00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:18,960
And now our action step for today. We cannot live our children's lives for them. Actually

13
00:01:18,960 --> 00:01:24,200
most of us have made so many mistakes in our own lives that we would probably not fare

14
00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:31,240
much better if we were given a second chance. Our proverb today reminds us that we are responsible

15
00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:37,320
to ground our children in godly ways, and then release them into God's care to live

16
00:01:37,320 --> 00:01:43,880
their own lives. You can't start too early to do this by setting the best example and

17
00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:50,560
guiding them with love and gentle godly discipline. There comes a time, however, when our sons

18
00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:56,160
and daughters are no longer children and we have to allow them to make mistakes, in the

19
00:01:56,160 --> 00:02:03,040
meantime faithfully praying for them and trusting that God will continue to work in their lives.

20
00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:08,200
God's Word tells us that they will not turn away from the example and foundation we laid

21
00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:15,280
for them, however inadequate it was. It does not say that if we do a good job they will

22
00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:22,140
never wander, but it does encourage us to do the best job we can and then trust God

23
00:02:22,140 --> 00:02:40,120
to honour our efforts as our children grow into adults.