WHAT FLAME ARE YOU IGNITING?(4)

*WISDOM FOR TODAY*

*WHAT FLAME ARE YOU IGNITING?(4)*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Matt 7:11

*lf ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?*

*Insight and Highlight.*

It is not everything your child wants that he/she must have.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

The prodigal son is one of several parables of Jesus that teaches us that, though a soul is lost, when confession and repentance are produced as fruit restoration is assured.

It also teaches us some lessons on parenthood.

First, the forgiven father of the penitent son tells us of how parents can often be wrong by their submission to the demands of their children.

Jesus teaches in Matt 7:11 emphasizing giving good gifts to our children. This teaches us that not all requests for gifts are given but only good gifts. God will only give those who ask Him good gifts. Therefore, as John 14: 13-14 tells us that He would give us whatsoever we ask in His name, this means whatsoever that glorifies Him.

We lead, and our children should follow just as we follow God. When they request, we must know that there are times when some things are not good for them either at a certain age or at any time in their lives.

We must learn to tell them that: 'this thing you are asking for, is not good for you at this time'.

Not giving your child everything he wants will not destroy the child, and neither would giving him everything he/she wants make the child any better.

Becareful of your children's pressure. Their pressure to have something may come out of greed, their peers' pressure or an indulgence to want to begin to live beyond their levels, or seeking an exclusive or expensive class for themselves at a young age.

Children exploit the weakness of their parents. If they see a parent yielding to their demands, they will abuse it. This is a red flag that could lead to the destruction of the child in the future.

Do not destroy God’s heritage.

We often overwork ourselves to satisfy them.

Only God is All-sufficient, and He would not give you what will take away your life.

Second, though the prodigal son's story is a strong lesson of forgiveness and reconciliation some thought may suggest that the father's empathy for the prodigal son was more about the loss of a son than the consequences of the son's actions. 

The other son's countenance was gently controlled by their father when he saw himself as being subjected rather than esteemed by his father.

His father's comment must have encouraged him that everything his father had would eventually belong to him

Lk 15:31 *And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.*

Third, it is a story that teaches us that parent's softness or favoritism of a child over others could spell sibling rivalry, which could destroy filial and family love, Gen 37:3-5.

Other children see the favouritism of one or more siblings over them. In the parable of the prodigal son, the good son told his father his one-sidedness. However, there is great danger where or when others do not tell their parents of their one-sidedness or the favouritism of one or more children over others but nurse a sinister or deadly plot, Gen 37:19-21.

The good son almost saw himself as a rival to the prodigal son rather than a role model of a good child.

He accused his father after the father slaughtered the *".....fatted calf....."*, Lk 15:30.

He said to his father *".......Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:*, Lk 15: 31.

Fourth, the prodigal son was asking his father what his father still depended on for his livelihood. To ask your father for your inheritance while he still lived was like asking him to give you what he still depended on to sustain himself, Lk 15:11-12.

We must never over-indulge our children. It could lead to their downfall.

Most families' chances of inheritance are destroyed when one or more are too ambitious to consider others' ambition.

Think about others and how much danger you pose to their ambitions because of your overambition or greed.

What flame are you igniting?

Is it a flame that would ignite a fire

to bring your family together or separate them?

*Remorse corner.*

Parents, you have the fan to the flame?

What is your motive when you are raising your children?

*Call to Word action.*

Jesus had the fan to separate grain from chaff. Raise distinguished children (grains) by separating and purifying them from the children of this world (chaff).

Matt 3:12 *Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Make sure the flame you are igniting or the flame you are fanning will not lead to a fire that will explode and lead to your child's downfall.

*Prayer.*

Lord, help me to fan a flame that would ignite a fire to bring my family together and not separate them.

Do not let me lead my child to a downfall in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and have a blessed day.

God bless you.