Not long ago, Jack Neal briefly became the proud owner of a pink convertible car after he managed to buy it for 9,000 pounds ($17,000) on the Internet despite being only three years old. Jack’s mother told the BBC she had left her password for the eBay auction site in her computer and her son used the “buy it now” option to complete the purchase. “Jack’s a whizz on the PC and just pressed all the right buttons,” Rachel Neal said.
They always say, “if can’t get your computer to work, ask a forth grader.” But three years old—that’s pretty impressive. Kids just keep learning technology earlier and earlier, and that on their own.
But when it comes to spiritual things, kids will not pick it up on their own. In fact, the Bible says, “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child.” (Proverbs 22:15) David wrote, “Surely I was sinful from birth…” (Psalm 51:5)
That’s why God gives parents the responsibility and privilege of raising their children “in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Consider the great missionary Timothy. Paul wrote, “From infancy you (Timothy) have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15).
Here’s the thing to remember: Timothy was from Lystra. There was no synagogue (church building/meeting house) in Lystra and probably not even a place of prayer. That means that there were probably no pastors, teachers, or missionaries in Timothy’s city. His father was a non-believing Greek. But Timothy became a great missionary. Why? He was raised in the training and instruction of the Lord by his mother and grandmother who were devout believers and taught Timothy God’s Word from the moment he entered this world.
At bed, in the morning, around the dinner table, tell your kids how great it is to follow the one who freely covers us in his mercy, grace, forgiveness, and purpose. It will make them wise for a life and eternity of peace in the Living Savior!
