What families are matters to God. He instructed a wife to honor her husband and a husband to love his wife (Eph 5:22-28). He wants children to obey parents (6:1) and he wants parents to teach their children (Prov 3:1ff). But families, many broken in today’s world, need encouragement and strength to be more every day what God wants.
On he second Sunday of September our nation honors grandparents – who are equally a large part of the equation of what makes our culture strong and our children complete. While it happens for many reasons, grandparents were not intended to raise children but many do. There has been a 12.5 per cent increase in the number of grandparents taking on the parenting role and the figure stands at 2.7 million, according to census data. Yet even with that, some grandparents do not realize, or ignore, how vital they are. Perhaps, the problem is our cultures obsession with youth or perhaps it is our youth filled with disrespect and dishonor. In either case, as with all things, if we will just follow what God’s Word says, blessings will come.
Paul affirmed grandparents can teach the next generation to understand God’s truth: “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (2Tim 1:5). There is no mention of his father, except that he was a Gentile. Lois, Timothy’s grandmother, however, was a devout Jewish woman who had taught her daughter and grandson in the Old Testament Scriptures. Her faith is called sincere or unfeigned, that is, without hypocrisy or deceit. In other words, her faith was genuine. We need more grandparents like this who know the truth and share the truth and speak with wisdom in love (Eph 4:16).
In Proverbs 17:6, we are told, “Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. . .” And, notice especially the Psalmist’s words: “We have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands” (Psa 78:3-7).
This generational torch of a spiritual heritage is more than just passing just to our children – but to our grandchildren. It has been said that, “Youth is the time to get instruction, middle age is the time to use it, and old age is the time to pass it on.” Still, this torch is passed by more than word, it is passed by example, “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life (Prov 16:31). The gray hair of wisdom and experience attained by righteous living illuminates the path for younger people. Even in Titus 2:1-7, the older are to be teachers of the young. Even the Psalmist connected the future of the younger generation to their parent’s parent’s generation: “May the Lord bless you from Zion; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. May you live to see your children’s children – peace be on Israel” (Psalm 128:5-6). So remember, grandchildren should be more than a charm on your bracelet or a picture in your pocket. They will be a glory when they walk in truth they see in you.
An investigation into the famed 18th century revival preacher Jonathan Edwards (1703-58) showed that, of the 1,394 known descendants of Jonathan Edwards, 100 became preachers and missionaries, 100 lawyers, 80 public officials, 75 army and navy officers, 65 college professors, 60 physicians, 60 prominent authors, 30 judges, 13 college presidents, 3 United States senators, and one a vice-president of the United States. Another man of that era, Max Jukes, a petty thief had 310 descendants who died as paupers, 150 criminals, 100 were drunkards, 7 were murderers, and more than half of the women were prostitutes.
Godly Grandparents can turn young people around. Grandparents, Great grandparents, future grandparents, each of us will leave a legacy. The life we choose to live will have an impact on those who come behind us that is far greater than what we can imagine. We need to show our grandchildren how to live and lead a Godly life, show them how to love, show them how to forgive, show them how to give and most of how show them how to live forever with the God who created us.
by Don Hooton