If there was only one thing to teach your kids and know they would be successful in life, would you want to know what it is? There are many experts these days who give a lot of advice on how to raise kids, what kids need to know, and how they learn best. The recommendations provided by these helpful resources should not be discouraged as there is safety in many counselors. However, in all your information intake, do not neglect this one training topic.
There are three Bible passages that speak to this topic of being “great” if you do this one thing. The passages are found in Deuteronomy 28:13-14; Matthew 5:19-20; Isaiah 9:13-17. Read each passage and review the comments associated.
Deuteronomy 28:13-14 – And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them, and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
Continual, careful listening for the purpose of doing all the commands of God promotes one to great success in God’s economy. Remaining on the path of obedience creates an atmosphere of victory. There is no belittling of themselves in failing to fully live out all God has commanded. Accomplishments that are achieved while aligned with God’s commands are a means of displaying God’s glory and enabling others to see His greatness . . .because the way taken is “His” path.
Matthew 5:19-20 – Whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Greatness in God’s Kingdom is guaranteed by doing (and teaching) the commandments of God. Getting a tight grip on the Word of God is essential for your child to attain unto excellence. God’s verdict of approval will only be applied when there is careful consideration for each and every, small and insignificant command God has established to be obeyed. Vacating the smallest stroke of God’s Word leaves room for the devil to gain a foothold and move your child down to missing the mark. God’s looking for His verdict of approval . . .not what you and/or your child deem to be “good enough” to be approved by God.
Isaiah 9:13-17
The people did not turn to him who struck them,
nor inquire of the Lord of hosts.
So the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail,
palm branch and reed in one day—
the elder and honored man is the head,
and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail;
for those who guide this people have been leading them astray,
and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.
Therefore, the Lord does not rejoice over their young men,
and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows;
for everyone is godless and an evildoer,
and every mouth speaks folly.
For all this his anger has not turned away,
and his hand is stretched out still.
No matter how much outward success or failure, following or extremity your child is involved, if your child refuses to turn to the Lord and listen to Him, your child will fail to be great. There will be no success in your child’s path. There will be nothing but misery because there is no fear of God before their eyes. Notice in this passage, God has not turned His back on the people (or your child). The hand/power of the God remains outstretched to offer help and guidance. It is the responsibility of your child to respond. Consider the word responsibility to be defined as “able to respond”. Your child must be able to respond back to God with proper recognition and consideration for all God has commanded and instructed. When you teach your child to turn and have a proper response to God, then he/she will be GREAT!
The bottom line in all of these passages is the Righteousness of God. God is concerned your child possess His verdict of approval. The only way your child will have success in life is when He is approved by God. A couple of passages which may help train you and your child in this area are found in Romans 1:16-17 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Salvation is success; success is salvation. The only way your child can experience being great is when salvation is experienced. Deliverance from all the paths of life that can kill, steal, and destroy only happens when the one path to life and peace is followed. That path is found when your child lives by assurance of God’s approval because he/she has set their feet firmly on hearing and following all God has established in His Word to be followed. They do not consider anything God has said in His Word insignificant or unimportant.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Regular, systematic reading and study of all 66 books of the Bible will be of much benefit to your child to teach what is required to be approved by God, provide constructive criticism, reform thoughts and habits, and provide practice opportunities which develops maturity in all God approves.
Your child will be great when they do this one thing – Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
If you don’t know quite where to begin helping your child enter the path of success, take advantage of this “GET A GRIP” resource. It provides a simple way to take the first step. You may consider a reading plan which begins with the Gospel of John, followed by the Psalms, and Proverbs.
God delights to show kindness to those who delight in Him.
