Raising Godly Men and Women
With five boys ranging from 11 years old down to 3, and another child coming in July (whose gender remains known only to God unless we sneak a peek), I have learned that I must take their discipleship (inclusive word for academics, character, and spiritual growth in Christ) seriously.
For all that God commands, He provides the resources. We've been working through two books by Bob Schultz, "Created for Work" and "Boyhood and Beyond".
"Boyhood and Beyond" contains short, independent, topical chapters with questions pertaining to the chapter for discussion at the end of each chapter. Each chapter deals with a specific character issue that could be applied to anyone, but intentionally targets boys. Using stories about himself or fictional characters, the author presents Biblical principles about Godly masculinity.
"Created for Work" is similar to "Boyhood and Beyond" in its format, but examines Godly character regarding work. The book begins with the fundamental premise that God loves to work in a joyful, creative manner, and since we are created in His image, that is what we are created for and how we are to go about it.
It always amazes me how God provides what we need when we read chapters out of these books. One of the chapters in "Boyhood and Beyond" dealt with Justice, which Mr. Schultz simply defined as "paying what you owe, to whom you owe, when you owe".
In the highest application, we owe God our love and obedience all the time. At the family application, parents owe God and their families to provide spiritual headship, food, clothing, shelter, instruction, etc. Children owe God and their parents to honor and obey their parents, including doing their school work, helping with the house work, learning to become good workers,and submitting to becoming Godly men and women.
As I now have a daughter and we don't know what number seven will be, I'm starting to research materials (Bible first!) to prepare my wife and I to raise her to be a Godly woman. The really neat part is the interaction of the training for sons and daughters. For example, I would make the point that to find a Godly wife who is looking for a Godly husband, what do I need to do to prepare my sons to be Godly husbands? Also, what should my sons look for in a Godly wife? My wife serves as an example of a Godly wife to my daughter in the making of one, and my sons as the qualities of one. They also serve as women with which they can practice etiquette, protection, discretion, valor, etc.
Praise God for His excellent design of the family as the environment in which to grow Godly men and women!
For all that God commands, He provides the resources. We've been working through two books by Bob Schultz, "Created for Work" and "Boyhood and Beyond".
"Boyhood and Beyond" contains short, independent, topical chapters with questions pertaining to the chapter for discussion at the end of each chapter. Each chapter deals with a specific character issue that could be applied to anyone, but intentionally targets boys. Using stories about himself or fictional characters, the author presents Biblical principles about Godly masculinity.
"Created for Work" is similar to "Boyhood and Beyond" in its format, but examines Godly character regarding work. The book begins with the fundamental premise that God loves to work in a joyful, creative manner, and since we are created in His image, that is what we are created for and how we are to go about it.
It always amazes me how God provides what we need when we read chapters out of these books. One of the chapters in "Boyhood and Beyond" dealt with Justice, which Mr. Schultz simply defined as "paying what you owe, to whom you owe, when you owe".
In the highest application, we owe God our love and obedience all the time. At the family application, parents owe God and their families to provide spiritual headship, food, clothing, shelter, instruction, etc. Children owe God and their parents to honor and obey their parents, including doing their school work, helping with the house work, learning to become good workers,and submitting to becoming Godly men and women.
As I now have a daughter and we don't know what number seven will be, I'm starting to research materials (Bible first!) to prepare my wife and I to raise her to be a Godly woman. The really neat part is the interaction of the training for sons and daughters. For example, I would make the point that to find a Godly wife who is looking for a Godly husband, what do I need to do to prepare my sons to be Godly husbands? Also, what should my sons look for in a Godly wife? My wife serves as an example of a Godly wife to my daughter in the making of one, and my sons as the qualities of one. They also serve as women with which they can practice etiquette, protection, discretion, valor, etc.
Praise God for His excellent design of the family as the environment in which to grow Godly men and women!
posted by RalphC at
9:03 AM
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