Author: H.P. Huskey
Someone has asked the question, “Is there a greater crime than child neglect?”
Dear friends, the Lord has burdened my heart for our children and given me this message to send out to parents. Prov. 23:13, “Withhold not correction from the child.”
Deut. 6:6, 7, “And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart; 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 riseth up.”
I Sam. 3:1.3, “For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.”
Dear ones, it seems to me that the above Scriptures and others dealing with the same subject are being neglected today.
We are living in the time when the Scripture found in Isa. 3:5 is being fulfilled before our eyes: “…the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient.” This is truly the age of disobedience, and the parents of this age are responsible.
Dear people, take warning. Many a child will die in his sins just because his parents failed to obey the Word, and did not correct and restrain the child. May the Lord help us to see our responsibility to our God-given jewels, and the awful result if we do not obey the Scripture and heed the instructions found in the sacred pages of the Bible.
This burden, and the realization of its weight, responsibility, and results, brought conviction upon me that made me seek the Lord for forgiveness of slackness and neglect in rearing my children. Not only did I ask the Lord to forgive me, but I also asked the children to forgive me. I pray that this message may stir your dear hearts also if you are guilty of the same offense.
Read about the sore punishment that fell upon Eli and his house when he failed to obey the Word and did not restrain his children. We are more responsible than we think for what our children become. Many a child has an evil disposition that his parents have helped to cultivate through carelessness or lack of restraint, as did Eli.
Many do not realize what correcting a child means. To correct means to cause our child to overcome and to get the victory over evil habits. Your child hasn’t been corrected until he stops doing the thing for which you are correcting him.
It seems as if some do not believe in disciplining their children. Dear parents, I believe this to be a sad mistake. The Lord reproves us, his children: “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” Heb. 12:6. Surely it is right to correct a child. Oh, dear ones, may God give us wisdom in this great responsibility given to us as parents.
And also, may the Lord help us to see and know how ready He is to restore. A broken and contrite heart he will not despise. As soon as a child of God is overtaken in a fault, the enemy is right there to discourage him. And if we as parents are not careful, we will help the devil to cause our child to become discouraged and give up.
Some parents have said: “Well, I am not going to make them think they are saved when they are not.” Dear beloved, this is a critical time. Your child needs your help now. Try to get him to see that God still loves him and will give grace and forgiveness if he seeks for it with all his heart. Tell him that God is able to make him strong in the areas where he is weak.
Oh, dear ones, never give up on your children or yourself. Be determined to make heaven your home. If you fail in your responsibilities, get up, ask forgiveness, and keep going. You will make it by God’s help. We are never counted out until we count ourselves out. As long as we are sorry and try to overcome, looking to Jesus, He will forgive and come to our rescue. Then if we let Him, He will lead us on to a richer, fuller life in Him where we will each be suitable for the Master’s use.
Yours in Him, H. P. Huskey
“Mother, I’ve found a dusty thing
high on the shelf-just look!”
“Why, that’s a Bible, Tommy dear.
Be careful, that’s God’s Book!”
“God’s Book!” the child exclaimed.
“Then, Mother, before we lose it
we’d better send it back to God,
for you know we never use it.”
