Teach Them Diligently

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

6"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."

We, as fathers, first need to have the Bible in our own hearts and not just our heads. The word of Christ needs to dwell richly in us.  We need the scriptures in us in order to teach them diligently to our children.  As verse seven says, we need to use every opportunity to teach our children about the law of God.  Use every opportunity.  Turn the questions they ask into opportunities to teach.  When a decision needs to be made, let your children see you apply the scriptures to it.

For example, when the time comes to look for a different car, do you buy a new one and take out a loan or do you buy the perfectly good $7000 car and pay cash?  Apply the Proverbs.  What if your family, who knows you like new cars, sees you applying the scriptures and paying cash for the good used one?  Their respect for you will probably increase and you will be applying the Proverbs and Deuteronomy 6:6-7 by using the opportunity to teach your children.

What about when the offer of a promotion comes at work but it will mean compromising what is right?   Use the opportunity to teach.  What about a child joining a sports team?  Eating too much?  Being lazy?  Respecting those in civil authority? In the Bible there is guidance for all these and much more.

Fill your own heart with the word of God and then instruct your children diligently.