Sovereign Grace Church

Train up a child in the way he should go…

One of the most difficult things I face as a preacher is children. How to speak to them is a matter in which I do not excel. One of the folks in our church asked me, ‘I know we are sinners, and the Bible refers to us as worms, etc. But how do we give our children any self-worth in this life in the light of this?’ What a question! Maybe this will help! (PROVERBS 22:6)

It is a settled fact that all are born in sin and shapen in iniquity (PSALM 51:5). We are all estranged from the womb and go astray as soon as we are born, speaking lies (PSALM 58:3). We do teach children this great fact in order for them to see their condition before the Holy God, and their need for a righteousness which they cannot produce.

However, they must live in this world with some idea of self-worth, and to know the difference between worth in the eyes of man and the eyes of God. We must NOT give them self-worth in a spiritual sense. Fleshly religion is guilty of this atrocity. Let me tread on a sacred cow of religion. Children are taught the little song,

“Jesus loves me, this I know; 
For the Bible tells me so.”

So they grow into adulthood with the idea that Jesus loves them, without ever being faced with the truth that He loves only those who believe He is the Lord and Redeemer.

Children are worth something, and I hold them in the highest esteem. You are to be commended for living obedient, truthful, industrious lives. You fathers, don't always degrade and put down your children (Ephesians 6:4). Learn to commend and approve of them, keeping in mind that they must have a Saviour from sin! They are sinners in need of the atoning blood of Christ, but at the same time they have a worth, and we must let them know both of these truths.

Our children are ourselves, and that oneness with them causes that great love that molds and melts your heart. 

Are your children worth anything? More than I can tell.