Richard O. Jones
Being a godly responsible parent is a major accomplishment.
To casually bring children into the world without the ability to love and
provide for them is reckless and immature.
The most ungodly couple can conceive a child. Society often says its the
parents’ responsibility to raise and properly teach their children.
However the Bible says in Matthew 7:18-20: A
good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth
good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast
into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits
you shall know them. Therefore, if the parents don’t have the Word of God in
them, it’s a good chance the child will lack in that area. According to my
practical application of Matthew 7:18-20, to produce better fruit (child) you must
first become a better tree (parent).
When
a child begins his or her life with a single parent they often begin life with
a social handicap. Yet most parents take a sense of pride in the fact that they’re
parents. The pride, if any, should come after the parent demonstrates their
parenting skills, not their fertility. Parents come in many categories just as
automobile drivers do. There are safe drivers and there are reckless drivers,
drunk drivers, suspended license drivers, and those asleep at the wheel. Many
parents are reckless and put society at risk as a result of their poor
parenting skills. Why do citizens angrily attack everybody for the misbehavior
of a young gang member but fail to confront the parent? Some children in the
same family have a pattern of prison or suspension from school but nobody says
the parents need help and offer good intervention before it’s too late. All
drive-by shooters were babies once, some still are.
Conscientious parents know their children.
The problem is that too many parents protect their wrongdoing children at the
expense of society.
Some minors drive
cars before they’re old enough to get a driver’s license. Many girls become
mothers before they’re legally old enough to consent to a sexual relationship.
Many boys become fathers before obtaining
their first job. However, unlicensed drivers can legally buy a car just as
ungodly, irresponsible teenagers and adults can legally raise their children.
Young men or women who live reckless lives then become parents are the root of
the current social problem facing the plight of children today and tomorrow. A
child born to an uneducated, wayward and/or godless parent has a steep climb
ahead of him or her.
A newborn baby and a new car have traits in common. When a
brand new car is driven off the showroom floor it’s usually in mint condition.
The new automobile owner is proud.
There are no dents, no cracked windshields, the
tires are new, it’s clean, everything is working properly and there’s no
interior damage.
Depending on the owner, the car may continue in mint
condition for the next twenty-five years. This owner followed the owner’s manual
that came with the new car. The car was given proper care. The owner provided the
car with regular oil changes, tune-ups, and general maintenance.
On the other hand, another twentyfive year
old car in the hands of an irresponsible owner would be in poor condition. The
irresponsible car owner has nothing to be proud of.
The condition of an older car reveals a lot
about the owner just as the spiritual and moral condition of an adolescent child
reveals a lot about the parent(s). The same analogy can be made with a new
house. Anybody can own a house but not everyone takes good care of his or her
house.
Email: richardojones1@verizon.net
