THE PRIMARY RULE FOR CHRISTIAN PARENTING -- Devotional for July 11, from "Good Seeds"

Job’s seven sons would hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, inviting their three sisters to come eat and drink with them. Now, at the end of each feast Job would consecrate them by rising up early and offering burnt offerings, one for each of his children, for he thought, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. (Job 1:4,5).

In this passage we very well may have the first mention in the Bible of “the birthday party.” Though Job’s three daughters didn’t seem to get parties, they weren’t left out of the fun, for they were the honored guests, seven times a year, at their brothers’ celebrations. What is this verse telling us? First, parties aren’t just for kids. Of course, you don’t have to tell that to adults today, for they’re always looking for an excuse to “party down.” Second, a birthday party needs just two things: 1) presents…whoops, I got that wrong – I mean presence, the presence of cherished friends and family. And it also needs 2) refreshments. Whatever Job’s kids ate and drank, it was surely the equivalent of today’s cake and ice cream and punch. But that’s what worried Job: how was he to know if the punch was spiked or not? He’d tried to raise his kids right, doing the equivalent of taking them to Sunday School and teaching them the Golden Rule. But now that they were adults Job could only hope they were staying on the straight and narrow path of righteousness and godliness. But with all this partying, well, can we blame him for being just a little concerned? Maybe they were getting careless with the wine, letting it loosen their tongues, and their morals, just a bit. Funny how what Job’s wife would later suggest he do – curse God – was the very thing Job regularly prayed would never be on the hearts or lips of his children. But he didn’t turn his concern into control; he didn’t concoct a “shame on you sermon” for a situation that might seem to call for it; he didn’t even try to sneak in a little innocent unasked for advice. No, Job knew the rule: “When your children are young speak to them about God; but when they’re grown, speak to God about your children.” The man known for patience should be just as well known for prayerful parenting. In contrast, look at Eli, who realized too late what his lax discipline had produced, but then thought he could fix it with a tardy rebuke: “Not so my sons.” They only scorned him to his face! You can’t preach to grown children, for kids soon learn to tune parents out for that sort of thing. Maybe they’ll listen to others – maybe not – but know for certain God will listen to you, for their behalf, every time you speak their names in His hearing.