We tend to think of investments related to money – putting forth money for future gains. We know there will be ups and downs, but we continue to invest for the long term benefit.
Investment in something or someone can also mean giving time, resources, or attention regularly.
Concerning the next generation, what or who is investing in them? With computer screens now front and center for all ages, we should consider the affect that investment is having on our children. Computers are often used for the sake of convenience, but they cannot substitute for nurturing and modeling and teaching. Computers should never be assigned to the role of parenting.
As parents or caregivers, we are to do the job of investing in our children to help them grow and thrive. Through ages and stages there will be ups and downs, but we must remain consistent in teaching our children about God and living for him, through love, grace, mercy, and truth. We are to lay the foundation of faith and build upon it as we spiritually invest in them.
Parenting well is hard. It is a sacrifice of personal time and desires. Isn’t that worth it to raise a person designed by God to know him and live in him?
Families are meant to be the stage for learning and practicing God’s ways, developing hearts that love, trust, and obey Jesus.
By the work of the Holy Spirit, investment that is godly produces the biggest and longest lasting dividends. Parents are given this valuable investment opportunity. We are teach to our children God’s character and work, our need for the Savior, our reliance on the Holy Spirit, and how to live for God’s glory. As less of this is taught and valued, the farther from God generations become.
Spiritually investing in our children involves spending intentional moments with them, giving loving attention to them, seeking God’s ways alongside them, saying meaningful prayers for them, and modeling for them a growing faith. Guarding family time for the purpose of nurturing children in the Lord is necessary. This, however, is not the way of the culture, which is trying to keep us from God. If we do not invest in our children, the enemy will gladly take such an opportunity, for evil’s sake. In the words of Jesus, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10 ESV).
As parents, let’s invest in our children in ways that matter for eternity. Let’s model living in faith – “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:7b-8a NIV, letter R in Do LAPS! Volume 2).
Do you, or a family you know, have elementary aged children? The Do LAPS! books make spiritually investing in children doable for parents, fun for kids, and meaningful for everyone!