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| Volume 20 Number 5 May 2018 | Page 4 |
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| Volume 20 Number 5 May 2018 | Page 4 |
Ronald D. Reeves
One of our greatest gifts from the Lord and one of our greatest responsibilities that we bear involve our children and our nurturing care of them. An unidentified author, respectful of the burdens of parenthood, suggested the following things to teach our children: (1) love God as the Lord of your life with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). (2) Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). (3) Love God’s Book above all other books, and hunger and thirst for its message (Matthew 5:6). (4) Honor your father and mother, and obey them in the Lord (Ephesians 6:1-2). (5) Love and respect your fellow men, even as you do yourselves (Matthew 22:39). (6) Earn your bread in the sweat of your face (Genesis 3:19). (7) Live a life of integrity, truthfulness and honor (Job 26:5). (8) Help the weak, the poor and the unfortunate around you (Romans 15:1). (9) Be good citizens and accept your social and civic responsibilities (1 Peter 2:13). (10) Be loyal soldiers of Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3-4). Though not an exhaustive listing of personal duties in this realm of activity, this brief listing will surely provide a wonderful beginning to the task of parenting. May all parents be blessed!
Known Since a Child
Mark McWhorter
We read in 2 Timothy 3:15, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Paul was encouraging Timothy to continue living and teaching the things pertaining to Jesus Christ. He wanted Timothy to remember all that he had been taught when he was growing up. In 2 Timothy 1:5, Timothy was reminded of the wonderful faith that his mother and grandmother had. In 2 Timothy 1:13, he was reminded that those things were sound words in Christ Jesus. In 2 Timothy 2:2, he was encouraged to teach those things to other people.
In 2 Timothy 3:14, Timothy was reminded that he was assured of these things at one time, and he was reminded of those who taught him and brought this assurance. In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul commanded Timothy to use the Word to reprove, to rebuke and to exhort other Christians. Timothy was to use the Scriptures for this purpose because they were given to him for that purpose (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
In the midst of this encouragement and reminder to Timothy is the verse quoted above. Notice that Timothy was taught the truth from the time he was a “child.” The Greek word used indicates the teaching began when he was a baby. In fact, the word can refer to the baby still in the mother’s womb. Timothy’s mother and grandmother did not wait until he was old enough to understand. There was no such thinking in them that Timothy was too young at any point in his life to be taught God’s Scriptures.
The second word to be considered is the word “known.” This comes from a Greek word that indicates not just being aware of something but knowing through experience. This word indicates that rather than just being taught and learning facts, the learner has also experienced the things taught or the application of those things. Timothy’s mother and grandmother were not hypocrites with their teaching. They did not teach Timothy one thing and then practice another thing. They lived what they taught. Timothy grew up knowing they were faithful to their teachings. Timothy saw the same principles in Paul.
Study your Bible. Learn everything you can from God. Teach those things to others, particularly your own children when you are an adult. Most importantly, live those things in your life. If any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.