Investing Time With Children And Teens

Feature 2 – December 2019 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Investing Time With Children And Teens

Time is only a fragment of eternity, yet it has been given by God for us to use wisely, especially with our children and teenagers. Most of them appreciate the presents given to them, but they value the presence of parents or caring adults much more. When parents or adults spend not just spare time, but quality time with them, they often develop positive feelings of affection, being loved and valued; acceptance and belonging; being wanted; and a number of other things. Many children from various walks of life are craving for affection, acceptance, approval and being needed. Thank God that these needs can be met by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and by parents and other adults investing time in their lives with eternity in mind.

Where do we begin? I believe the home is the greatest mission field, and it is vital to spend time with our children. Parents must see their children as gifts from God to be

• Treasured,
• Treated with respect at all times, and
• Trained for Him.

Children are sent as a reward in the home, as Solomon pointed out: “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is [His] reward” (Ps. 127:3 NKJV). In every home, there should be the practice of prayer and reading of the Bible as a family together. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col. 3:16).

Time To Train Our Children And Teenagers
It is significant that Solomon likened children to arrows: “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children of one’s youth” (Ps. 127:4). The arrow has to be prepared. Similarly, parents must prepare children for exemplary living – educationally, spiritually, emotionally and physically. It is never too early to start training, but it is especially important in one’s youth because it is the greatest time of deep impression, innocence and interest. “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’” (Eccl. 12:1).

The arrow has to be polished, which suggests instruction and discipline. Teaching does not necessarily involve training, but training involves teaching. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). Discipline must be done in love, and be firm but fair. Also, children, as arrows, must be pointed at the target. Therefore our goal in training should be to point them to the Lord Jesus for salvation, satisfaction and service. Paul said concerning Timothy, “From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15).

Investing Quality Time With Youths And Teenagers
Teenagers experience changes in themselves, the family, education, location and identification. Many yield to the tide of peer pressure that is pulling them into the ocean of lust and self-gratification. However, there are other young people who have a purpose in living and a cause worth dying for, as expressed by the apostle Paul: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). They have decided to follow Jesus without any refusal or retreat, and they are confident that at the end of life’s journey they will have no regret. Many teenagers perceive themselves as adults, but all need godly parents and adults to spend quality time with them to build character and contacts without contamination.

Each child and teenager has his or her own personality, purpose, priority and plan. Therefore, it is important for a dad or mom, or godly adults to spend one-to-one time with each child/teenager as much as possible. Take out each one for a walk, for a treat or to a special function, for example. At times, take out all the children together too.

Build up your children without breaking them down. It is better to build wholesome youths and teenagers than to repair damaged adults. It is better to build a fence at the top of the hill than to have an ambulance at the bottom of the hill. Spending quality time – not just spare time – with them is costly, but it is worth it all in light of eternity.

By Emanuel V. John