My wife and I had discussion yesterday about why do people push their children to be the “best” of everything. To exceed not only themselves, as was the original ideal of the American parent, but to exceed all others and to dominate. Either in sports, entertainment and business. This is actually not what we were taught less than fifty year ago. Now it seems to be the theme of everything. Form prosperity preachers to infomercials.
This is actually not what the Bible teaches. Now as an example I want to look at 1 John 3:17:
“If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?”
This is what it says in the new living translation, but look at it in the KJV as well:
“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”
Now I want to look at the word “but.”
But – de – a weak adversative particle, generally placed second in its clause; but, on the other hand, and.
“On the other hand.” As you see in the NLT version they used the word “if.”
Now let’s look at the conversion between Jesus and the rich man:
Matthew 19:16 – Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 20 “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” 21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
So if Jesus Himself says it is extremely hard for a rich person to get into heaven, why would you seek after it? You shouldn’t, yet millions do and only an extremely few succeed. Or do they “succeed”? According to the Bible, they don’t. They are actually failures. They have failed themselves, they have failed their children. Why? Because they have turned their backs upon God.
They say they are following the commandments, yet Jesus has asked them to sell it all and follow Him. They mouth the words that they follow Him, but are not practicing what they preach, they are hypocrites. They are the lukewarm (Revelation 3:14-22).
If you wish your children to be better than you, do not seek to make them exceed in sports, knowledge or business. Teach them the Bible. Teach them God. Teach them the teaching that Jesus Christ gave to us all. Not only the love, but also the anger and the judgement that Jesus Himself spoke of. Do you know Jesus spoke more about the pit of fire than he did about love?
Yet more today say we must love all. This is not what the Bible teaches. It teaches we must love those that are our brother and sisters IN CHRIST. We are to turn away from the world and those things that are of the world, like money a.k.a. riches.
Teach your children to be average and God fearing and loving. Then you have made you children better than you and you will most likely be blessed.