By bro Lee Tian Seng
Many Christians do not know how to apply Bible teachings in their lives, not to mention children. Therefore, parents need to teach their children how to apply Biblical principles in managing problems in their lives. This will help them to appreciate the teachings of the Bible and learn how to solve problems using the Bible.
Psalms 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Firstly, parents can use the problems that their children encounter at home with their siblings or at school with their friends to teach them. If they damage their sibling’s favourite toy, parents can teach them to care for others and to apologise if they are in the wrong. The process will begin with trying to understand what happened and how your children view and feel about the problem. We do not want to jump to a wrong conclusion. If there is a lesson about the need to love and care for others, parents could use the following scriptures:
Matthew 22:37-39 - Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Romans 12:10 - Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.
If your children need to learn to say “sorry” and mend their relationships, parents could teach them that Jesus wants us to reconcile with those whom we have offended so that God will accept our worship.
Matthew 5:23-24 - Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Parents could use the problems of others to teach their children. If your neighbours are always quarrelling with one another over the noise that one created which disturbed the other, parents could teach them about living together in peace and the need to be considerate. Parents could turn to the Bible to teach their children that God wants us to be peacemakers and to live in peace with others:
Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Romans 12:18 - If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
On the need to be considerate, parents could teach that Jesus had considered our needs and that He wants us to consider the needs of others.
Philippians 2:3-8 - Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Parents could use a problem that happened in the church. If children overhears a member gossiping or being very critical about the preacher, parents could teach them that God wants us to control our speech and not to speak evil of others.
James 3:2 – For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Ephesians 4:31 - Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
Finally, parents can use many problems that happened in the world to teach their children. These are what our children read in the news or watch on television. When children see people losing their homes and families in a flood, a fire, or an earthquake on television, parents could teach them that God wants us to respond by helping those who are in need.
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Galatians 6:9-10 - And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
There are many opportunities to share with our children how the Word of God can be applied in their lives, and as we teach them we are helping ourselves and them to grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord.