What Are Your End Goals?
2 Peter 1:8 “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (ESV).”
As we stand on the threshold of summer break, I would like to take a moment to challenge parents with this thought. What are the end goals of your parenting? Considering the end goals you have for your children will significantly change the way you parent them in the day to day moments you will have this summer. Keeping the end goals in front of you will transform ordinary moments into Deuteronomy 6 moments. You will train (Proverbs 22:6), discipline, and instruct (Ephesians 6:4). The reproofs that you offer will be life-giving and provide wisdom (Proverbs 6:23, 15:31, and 29:15). Here are some examples of how considering the end goal will change parenting.
Entertainment: Instead of mind-numbing video games, parents who want their children to grow up to think critically about the world around them and have a well-developed Biblical worldview and apologetic will provide their children with meaningful entertainment. This may include good quality radio dramas, challenging books, and read-alouds, or movies that can stimulate thinking or lead to family discussions. These children will be encouraged to articulate their thoughts and beliefs and the reasons behind them.
Relationships: Instead of simply silencing a sibling conflict by taking the toy away or sending the contenders to their rooms, parents who want their children to grow up to be kind, loving spouses and parents will teach their children how to handle conflict biblically.
Lifestyle: Instead of making excuses, parents who want their children to grow up to live godly, disciplined lives get them up in the morning, make them take responsibility for themselves, and engage them in church each week.
Maturity: Instead of fighting their battles, solving their problems, or providing escape routes when things are difficult, parents who want their children to trust God when life is hard will allow them to fail, experience hurt and hardship, and teach them how to handle the difficult things that come their way.
There are many more examples that could be given, and this is challenging because as parents, we all realize how far short we ourselves fall of the end goal of godliness. However, if we are allowing God to move us along the path of sanctification, we should be willing and able to lead our children forward. None of us does this perfectly, but we are required to be faithful to the calling God has placed on us by giving us children. By God’s grace, he is the one who saves and sanctifies them. It is a privilege to have a front row seat to the process and be tools God uses to mold and shape our children.
“Behold, children are a heritage fro the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them.” (Psalm 127:3-5a ESV)
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