Netherwood Park church of Christ -- Sharp(er) Focus |
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VOL. 30 |
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NO. 40 |
VESTED INTERESTS
What is a "vested interest"? It is a matter in which you have something of personal value or worth invested. You may be interested in the stock market purely from curiosity but if you own stock, you have a vested interest. You may like to follow the high school football team in your neighborhood, and you may even be on the boosters club, but if your son is on the team, you have a vested interest.
What is your interest in our Bible class program for our children? If you are a member of our congregation, you should want it to be the best possible program for teaching children about God and His Son that we can possibly have. Many have such interest. We have teachers who are in their seventh or eighth decade of life and they are still teaching children because they love children. They have an interest, but if you are a parent, you have a vested interest.
Many of our parents teach in our Bible classes. More are needed. Of course Bible classes are supposed to be simply a way to supplement the teaching children receive at home. Parents have the primary responsibility to teach their children from the word of God. God has always required this of parents. The Bible has examples of parents who taught their children and examples of parents who neglected to teach their children and the results are well known. If parents are relying on Bible class teachers to do all the teaching, our children will not learn as they should. The apostle Paul gives specific instruction to fathers to bring up their children in the training and instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). Timothy was trained in the Scriptures from infancy by his mother and grandmother (2 Tim. 3:14-15; 1:5).
But we also need for parents to take the lead in teaching our children in our Bible classes. I’m not quite sure why we have such a shortage of teachers at this time, but I’m sure that we need to solve this problem very soon. Obviously it is not only parents we need but everyone who is able to use and develop their abilities as teachers. We will give an account for how our children are taught or not taught. They are our God-given responsibility. I’m thankful for the many dedicated teachers we have who give so unselfishly of their time and talents and love. But more are needed!
We are asking you to consider prayerfully and carefully our responsibility to teach our children. If you have an interest, be a teacher. If you have a vested interest, you really need to be a teacher!
-- Wayne Sharp