What I Want To Teach My Sons

Introduction

On behalf of the congregation that meets here at South Bumby, we’d like to welcome our visitors. We appreciate you taking time out of your travels or your busy week, or if your neighbor just uh coming to visit us, we’d like to get acquainted with you and meet you after the services. My talk this evening has over 26 scriptures in it, and I’m not going to be able to read all of them or even reference all of them, but they’ve all been posted in uh on Facebook under South Bumbee Talks. If you’ve never heard of that, check with Jim Duke. Subject is as Christians, what should we be teaching our sons? Regardless of how wicked our society comes, we as parents have the major influence in the shaping of our children’s lives.

Today we see the fruits of the efforts begun in the 60s to make a unisex society. Men are pushed to become effeminate and passive. Women are taught to become aggressive and abandon the home and married life. There is no wonder that these same leaders in shaping our society are now endorsing homosexuality, same-sex marriage, and gender confusion as a wonderful lifestyle. We as parents have the Word of God as an infallible guide.

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. If we would have the faith and humility to listen, God can help us. Oh, for more parents with the attitude of Manoah. Judges thirteen, seven through 8. But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive and bear a son, and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing, for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death. Then Manoah entreated the Lord and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born. If we look at the cross we find the lesson we must teach in Hebrews five eight and nine Though he were a son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered, and being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

1. Work Is Honorable

Work is honorable we live in a society that places more value on what can I get than of a strong character who will be dependable and hard working provider. God expects every man to be the breadwinner for his home Genesis two twenty four. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh Ephesians four twenty eight let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labor working with his hands the thing which is good that he may have to give to him that needeth. The idea here is to provide not only for self but for others. Some men must mature before marriage. A good man is unselfish with the fruits of his labor.

First Timothy five, eight and two. But if any provide not for his own, especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. I want my sons to give their very best on any job they take. Ecclesiastes nine ten. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave where you are going, there is neither working nor planning, nor knowledge, nor wisdom. An hourly wage is a promise. Will I keep my hand? What kind of man was God’s son Jesus Christ? And he went out from thence and came into his own country, and his disciples followed him. And when the Sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things, and what wisdom is this which is given unto him that even such mighty works were wrought by his hands.

2. Service to the Lord Must Be First

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joseph, and of Judah and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. Imagine meeting Jesus during this period of his life. Service to the Lord must be first in our sons’ lives. While work is important, it is not first, Matthew 6 33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. It’s not second, his family is. Still, this kind of man is more important to his company than the worldly. I want my sons to overcome their timidity and have an understanding with their employer. In 2 Timothy 1 6 through 7 we read, Wherefore I put thee in a remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, timidity, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Tell the boss I am a Christian and I must be at worship. Gain a promise from him and hold him to it. Do not back down. This decision must be made in the heart. It’s difficult for a man to hold this commitment. This commitment must begin in school and continue in work. He will not get some jobs because of this. Putting the Lord first means learning self-control. My sons must make it through the teenage years and not be overcome by the good old boys who want to get high for fun. My sons must learn how to control their emotions and not be overcome by anger, jealousy, and bitterness.

3. The Responsibility of Headship and Leadership

One day a young mother and her kindergarten age son was driving down the street. The inquisitive little boy asks, Mommy, why do all the idiots only come out when Daddy drives? God has given the man the responsibility of headship. This is a great responsibility. This means I must do things that I do not want to. This means that I put others first. What true headship involves, an acceptance of responsibility, not indecisive, vacillating, but firm. It is unimaginable to me for a man to bring children in the world and not be a Christian. This will bring problems for your children. An unselfishness motivated by love, Ephesians 5 25. True leadership finds fulfillment in providing what is good for the family. Here is where the wise men will listen and learn.

4. As Useful as Possible in the Lord’s Service

Leadership in the ways of God. Real leadership involves service, that means run from. I would love to know my sons would be a Timothy. Real leadership involves standing for what is right, even when you must stand alone. Too many churches have cowardly men. Our sons must have good judgment, the value of kindness, courtesy, and gratitude. In short, how to be a gentleman. They may not know the books of etiquette, but they must know God’s book. This is a quality of character that puts others ahead of themselves. Children are natural mimics who act like their parents in spite of every attempt to teach them good manners. What are the marks of a good man? To be as useful as possible in the Lord’s service. There is such a need for workers in the kingdom.

5. True Success Is Doing the Will of God

I want them to take their talents as far as possible. This will require faith and willingness to try and learn. At the same time, I want them to avoid pride. Some do things to be seen. When men do work for the Lord, they will be blessed. There is only a limited time in which these things can be taught to our children. They grow up. What example will they see in us as parents? First Corinthians 11 1. Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ. The best thing parents can spend on their children is time, not money. I want my boys to understand that true success is found in doing the will of God. Matthew 7 24 27. Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock, and the rain descended, and the floods claim, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.

And every one that hears these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sin. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. Making wise decisions in life is important. And the most important decision is whether or not to serve the Lord and seek eternal life. And the first steps of that are really very, very simple. You need to hear the word, believe that the Bible is God’s word. Repent of your sins, confess Jesus before others that you believe he is a Son of God. Be baptized for the remission of your sins and arise a new creature, putting away all corruption, and live in compliance of God’s word all the days of your life.

Conclusion

There’s any that would like to obey the gospel call at the kind you come forward as we stand and sing.