Education
Good Morning,
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
This month is Christian education month at Faith Baptist Church. We all have different dreams and goals for our children, but I think if we were to crystallize all of those goals, we would want God glorified and our children happy.
1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Consider Finance
Some parents of Christian young people are fearful that their children will end up choosing a bad career (or even the ministry) and struggle financially throughout their lives. I assure you, after four decades in the ministry, I have seen many businessmen struggle financially. Most of the real estate agents I have known live on an economic roller coaster. I have seen military personnel, as well as those who own their own businesses, face economic pressures, and, on occasion, even face bankruptcy. I have known a few medical doctors who lived a life devoted to others, and yet, this also gives no guarantee of economic stability or marital bliss.
Soul: the internal you, both on earth and in eternity – Jesus warned that gaining the whole world to lose one’s soul is tragic.
Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
It may not be the eternal soul as much as the soul that faces a life of desperation and suffering. Gaining the whole world means absolutely nothing as far as happiness is concerned.
Everyone is visited by good and bad situations.
I have known many people in the construction industry, and when times are prosperous they work night and day and are hardly able to spend time with their families. When the economy is bad, they cannot find work or they have to travel long distances to find a few hours of pay. I have known union employees whose lives were based on government contracts. These workers also faced “feast or famine” types of careers. When the contracts come through, they work night and day with no rest for family, home, or God. When contracts do not come through, they are fearful for their very existence. Between those times, they also face union strikes which add to the confusion of their financial stability. Never fear that serving God will cause difficulty; in general, life causes difficulty.
Accredited Schools and Colleges
As Christians, I believe we have great liberty to trust that God is involved in every aspect of our lives, but if we are honest, we know a college degree does not guarantee success in marriage, children, or church. If success is glorifying God, having a happy marriage, being involved in a church, or loving people, a college degree will not even slightly increase the success of a young person‘s life. None of these areas are improved one iota by a college degree or a higher annual income.
For four decades, we have seen young people graduate from unaccredited high schools who usually attend unaccredited colleges. Guess what I have found? Couples who marry those who think like they do have happy homes, buy houses, have babies, and serve the Lord with their few free hours.
I have watched those who sought secular jobs but desired to stay in church faithfully battle to do so. Likewise, I have seen those in the ministry fight to keep their home and ministry balanced. Work, home, ministry, and walk with God are difficult to keep balanced, but college or high school had far less to do with their success than marrying right and maintaining a personal walk with God.
Choose spiritual priorities; that is Matthew 6:33 lived out through your daily life. Read through these verses slowly and ask God to help you keep spiritual priorities. Doing that will bring us much closer to pleasing God and giving our children a happy future.
Matthew 6:31 “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?”
vs. 32 “(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”
vs. 33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
vs. 34 “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
Pastor