Recently, my nephew, Michael Courson, posted an observation on Facebook that caught my attention.

Here is his post:

Maybe I don’t know what I am talking about since I’m not a parent myself, but I personally can’t fathom how parents can take their kids to Walmart or the grocery store and ignore every single question that they ask. Yes, their questions are endless, but they’re looking to you as their role model and as a person who has experienced more of the world than they have. It seems to me as if many of these kids adore their parents and the parents are too preoccupied with themselves to notice. You’re standing in line… Do you really have something better to do than giving your kids a little attention?

The greatest gift we can give our children is OURSELVES, our love and our time.

We need to hear what Moses told parents in Deuteronomy 6. The nation of Israel is about to enter the land God had promised them. They cannot fully understand that their environment, their culture, their diet, their technology and their occupations will undergo a radical transformation. They will face new obstacles, new challenges, and new opportunities. Moses undertakes the task of preparing them for this new adventure.

In the first three verses Moses notes that God’s commandments are presented so that Israel may obey them. They are challenged to be careful to observe them, so that it may be well with them, that they may multiply greatly, and that their days may be prolonged. This theme of blessing following obedience is not unique to this chapter; the theme runs throughout the entire book of Deuteronomy. It seems that moderns have forgotten or willingly neglected this principle. When we fail to align our lives with the principles found in God’s Word, we face the consequences (and there are always consequences) of such disobedience.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” – Proverbs 14:34 (WEB)

This instruction crosses generational lines: you, your son and your grandson. It must be handed down to the next generation, and so on. Hanging in the balance is the transmission of the foundational principles of faith. Later in Israel’s history, we encounter what happens when transmission fails to take place.

“When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel.” – Judges 2:10 (NKJV)

Our generation is witnessing the effects of a failure to transmit the foundational principles of the faith to succeeding generations. For a compelling analysis of what is happening, refer to Jim Denison’s article on The Great Evangelical Recession, http://www.denisonforum.org/america/1296-the-great-evangelical-recession.

The Shema (the Hebrew word for “Hear”) lays the foundation for life. “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4, NKJV) This is the priority of life, the ultimate reality, the foundational truth. God exists and He alone deserves our allegiance. Of all the so-called gods, He alone is THE GOD. He is not just one in essence, He stands alone as the one we are to worship and serve. Where commitment to Him falters, a failure to obey ensues. Whereas He told Israel that they were to “have no other gods before Him,” in our day many gods are exalted above Him: Power, Success, Money, Fame, Sex, etc. Where our commitment to Him falters, we will also fail to transmit His priority to following generations.

Of course, obedience without relationship won’t work. The greatest commandment is nothing less than to love God with all our being. It is only in relationship that duties become opportunities to express love (“If you love me, you will keep my commandments” – John 14:15) rather than obligations that burden or demand reciprocation or reward (“You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours”). Parents want children to “do what I say, because I said it,” but without building a relationship of love and trust, parents may expect children to be reluctant, resistant, even rebellious.

In verses 6-9, Moses lays out the parental responsibilities that relate to training children. The first principle is essential: you must first embrace what you expect from your children. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.” “Do as I say, not as I do” will not work. And children are perceptive. They have a built-in monitor that can sniff out even subtle hypocrisies.

The thrust of the remaining verses (7-9) focus on the context of teaching. We teach our children in real life situations as we are living life. We teach them in the various activities of life and in our daily routine. We make sure that they are constantly confronted with the life principles we are seeking to teach. In other words, Michael, parenting is a very intensive, consuming process that, if done correctly, demands a considerable commitment of time and effort.

In the final verses of Deuteronomy 6, Moses specifically challenges parents to be perceptive, open and available when their children ask questions (see verses 20-25). I call these questions “teachable moments.” Children are most open to our teaching when they are asking questions and they are most likely to really hear our answers when we are responding to their questions. When it comes to spiritual questions, our answer should be in the form of a personal testimony, as we share not only what we know, but also what we have experienced. We testify concerning what God has done in our lives, how He has led us, and how He has provided for us. And we let them know what God expects from them, as well as why they should listen and obey.

Michael, there is no greater opportunity or challenge than to spend time with our children, teach them life lessons, and build a relationship with them. They are our greatest opportunity to leave a legacy.

Psalms 127:3-5 (WEB)

Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh.

The fruit of the womb is his reward.

As arrows in the hand of a mighty man,

so are the children of youth.

Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.

They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.