Investing in Your Seed Text: Proverbs 22:6
6). Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (It’s time to Raise Boys Instead of Mending Men.) Show film on father’s from sermonspice.com (Thanks Dad)
Training includes hands on, following by example, self discipline, teaching, time, saying “no” to other things, love, rebuke, exhortation, encouragement and perseverance! Training actually could be called investment because that’s actually what it is. I read an article in runners world by an 83-year-old man he said, “The pain of discipline is less than the pain of regret!” He told this to the writer of Runners World Magazine as he crossed the finish line of his 25th marathon. One thing for sure, if fathers don’t raise their children the world will!
I. There’s a story in the Old Testament that I would like to share with you. In 2 Chronicles 36:15-19 And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. 16). But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His word, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy. 17). Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young men or virgin, on the aged or the weak; He gave them all into his hand. 18). And all the articles from the house of God, great and small, the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the King and of His leaders, all these he took to Babylon. 19). Then they burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious possessions.
A. “I love my job,” said Maggie, a young nurse, “but it’s so frustrating when I tell people what I tell people what they need to do to stay healthy and they don’t follow my advice.”
B. If you and I feel frustrated when our children or people won’t follow advice, imagine how God feels when men and women ignore His word!
C. This was the case with Israel, they thought they knew more than God! 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. 16). But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His word, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.
D. Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived God will not be mocked for whatever a man sows that he will reap. 8). For he who sows to his flesh will from the flesh reap destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life.
E. Sow a seed of trouble, and you’ll harvest a bushel of sorrow. Three ways many parents multiply a child’s lack of common sense. 1. Give him a big weekly allowance. 2. Give her a brand new car when she turns sixteen. 3. Protect him from the consequences of his bad decisions.
F. The United States is the world’s leaders in fatherless homes. The results of our actions, according to the Fathers’ Manifesto: 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes. 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes. 80% of rapists motivated with displaced angers come from fatherless homes. 85% of youth in prisons grew up in fatherless homes. 75% of all adolescent patients in drug treatment centers come from fatherless homes.
G. Children from fatherless homes are: 5 times likely to commit suicide. 32 times more likely to run away. 20 times more likely to have behavioral disorders. 14 times more likely to commit rape. 9 times more likely to drop out of school. 10 times more likely to abuse chemical substances 9 times more likely to end up in a state-operated institution. 20 times more likely to end up in prison.
H. Joshua 24: 13-16 I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.’ 14 “Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
I. Father’s, “it’s time to invest in your seed; in your own flesh and blood!” Joining hands for prayer.
