Parenting can bring a lot of joy. But it also can bring its share of heartache. “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.” (Proverbs 10:1). When kids turn out well, parents shouldn’t take all the credit. If the kids rebel and forsake their parent’s teaching, the parent must not assume all the blame.
My heart goes out to single parents. Many of them are exhausted, having no one to share the workload on the home front. Some families have two parents, but only one is actively involved in raising the children. Also, in homes in which only the mom or dad follows Christ, their views on parenting may be very different from that of their spouse.
One such divided home was that of Timothy. We are introduced to this young man when the Apostle Paul met him on his second missionary journey. “He [Paul] came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek.” (Acts 16:1)
After years of Timothy serving alongside of Paul, the apostle said about him, “I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.” (Philippians 2:20–22)
In Paul’s last personal letter to Timothy, he mentions the two things that Timothy’s mother did that had such a positive impact upon her son’s upbringing.
First, she demonstrated FAITH. “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5). Timothy had often seen his mom trust the Lord when confronted by a difficult circumstance. When it comes to faith, more is caught than taught.
Second, she exposed Timothy to the SCRIPTURES. “From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15). She raised him to respect and follow the teachings of God’s Word and to receive Christ while he was still young.
This is not a guarantee that if you demonstrate your faith and reliance upon the Bible, then your kids will become Jesus-followers. But it does increase the likelihood that they will. Many parents of wayward children cling to the promise, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6). They are trusting that eventually, their kids will recognize the value of personally deciding to follow Jesus.
Remember, parents, if our kids follow Christ, we can’t take all the credit. If they don’t follow the Lord, neither are we to take all the blame. Let’s continue to demonstrate our faith and reliance on God’s Word.
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