My dear readers,

1. No greater joy!

"Wise children are not only the joy but the crown of their parents. Foolish children are their disgrace as well as their torment. How unnatural are those children that bring grief and dishonour on those to whom they are under obligations that can never be canceled!" (George Lawson).

What Resolve!"My son, be wise!" No father can force wisdom on a son even if he should try to do so. With all the best efforts on the father’s part, there is no guarantee of a favorable outcome. "Children sweeten labour, but they make misfortunes more bitter" (Bacon). There must be a strong resolve on the part of the son to hear and heed his father’s prayer. He must do whatever it takes, cost what it may, to get the best wisdom and knowledge that he is capable of, and then make the very best use of it.

What Result! "My son, be wise, and make my heart glad." How blessed it is when a son obeys his father’s injunction and follows the best wisdom, and does so by words and deeds. Yes, surely such a son brings joy to a father’s heart. Who would not rejoice in such a multitude of children, and in the goodness of those children? Apostle John records, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth" (3 John 4). It is certainly ample reward for all the loving care and sacrifice made on behalf of that son. What a comfort and stay this must be in the father’s (parents’) old age! What praise and thanks to God are offered for His great mercy and kindness to them all.

What Rebuke! "That I may answer him that reproacheth me." There are always enemies of the best, especially God’s best. Should the son turn out badly after all, the godly father (parents) must bear the rebuke for having produced such a son. Some will accuse the father of being too severe, or for too many restrictions in his son’s training. The father’s personal religious beliefs will be blamed. Others may hint that the father’s life has been inconsistent. His religion again is at fault being hypocritical. What father does not rather pray for a noble son who will refute all such reproach?

To bring up a child for God is the noblest privilege.To be such a son or daughter is to gladden my parents’ hearts!

2. Fathers and sons

There were two sons. The first son was handsome, clever, ambitious, but had ruled God out of his life in pursuit of his goal. The second had few of the advantages of the first, had only average ability, but was imbued with a deep love of God, and respect for God’s Word, learned first at his parents’ knees. Which of the two is a wise son, according to Solomon? Can you doubt which one brings most honour to himself and his father’s name (Deut 4:5-6)?

Parents’ Desire: The law here is the moral law running through all of Scripture, God’s eternal law that He has set before every man (Rom 1:18-20). He who keeps this law is a wise son, a son who grasps the true nature of things (Ps 119:33-40). He seeks the company that respects God and honours His law. Such a son all godly parents would be proud of (Prov 6:20-21).

Parents’ Disgrace: Is it not a son "among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh (gluttons)…" (Prov 23:20-22)? Such a disobedient, self-indulgent, prodigal son, shames the family. How often have godly parents appealed to their sons to be careful of the company they keep? They know that those who hang around with the wrong people will all too quickly become like them.

Parents’ Devotion: What parent does not shrink from the shame of a son sunken in sin? What parent does not desire to have delight in his children? There is, however, an obligation and a cost. Parents must:

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it … And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord"(Prov 22:6; Eph 6:4).

They must help them early to hide God’s Word in their hearts so that they can say truly,"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee … I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word … O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day" (Ps 119:11, 16, 97).

"A father’s holy life is a rich legacy for his sons" (Spurgeon).

3. A Christian Home (Barbara B Hart)

1. O give us homes built firm upon the Saviour,
Where Christ is Head, and Counsellor and Guide;
Where ev'ry child is taught His love and favor
And gives his heart to Christ, the crucified:
How sweet to know that tho his footsteps waver
His faithful Lord is walking by his side!

2. O give us homes with godly fathers, mothers,
Who always place their hope and trust in Him;
Whose tender patience turmoil never bothers,
Whose calm and courage trouble cannot dim;
A home where each finds joy in serving others,
And love still shines, tho days be dark and grim.

3. O give us homes where Christ is Lord and Master,
The Bible read, the precious hymns still sung;
Where pray’r comes first in peace or in disaster,
And praise is natural speech to ev'ry tongue;
Where mountains move before a faith that's vaster,
And Christ sufficient is for old and young.

4. O Lord, our God, our homes are Thine forever!
We trust to Thee their problems, toil, and care;
Their bonds of love no enemy can sever
If Thou art always Lord and Master there:
Be Thou the center of our least endeavor:
Be Thou our Guest, our hearts and homes to share.

Lord, give us Christian homes "where Christ is Lord and Master, The Bible read, the precious hymns still sung; Where pray’r comes first in peace or in disaster, And praise is natural speech to ev'ry tongue."

God bless all readers.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor