To Parents by F. G.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 6, 1907

To Parents

By F. G.

ABRAHAM was chosen for the position in God's great plan of salvation which he occupied; and he became a great nation because he commanded his children and his household after him, to walk in the ways and statutes of the Lord.

He is an object-lesson to all parents. He did his work faithfully and well. Isaac was so taught to obey, that when Abraham was preparing to offer him as a sacrifice, he helped to bind the cords that fastened him on the altar. O that we all as parents were as true and faithful to the trust committed to us as was Abraham! A different state of affairs would then certainly prevail among our young people. In place of seeing them engaged in worldly avocations, we should see them entering heartily upon the service of the Lord as they leave their parental roofs. God requires no less of us than he required of Abraham; but as he is no respecter of persons, our reward will be as great as was Abraham's, if we are as faithful to our trust and the performance of our parental duty as was he.

The Lord has given plain instruction as to the training of our children for his service. He has ordained schools, that they may be taught his laws, as they are revealed in his Word, in nature, and in his dealings with mankind.

Children are an heritage of the Lord. They are given us for our good. If we properly do our part in training them for his service, we ourselves shall be greatly rewarded in divine life. We must ever hold before our minds the purpose of our existence. It is not that we may simply live our little day of life here and pass away forever; but it is that we may so live here that we may live forever in a better world.

But to do this we must enter into the spirit of the author of life, Christ Jesus. His spirit was one of sacrifice for others. As parents we are called upon to give our children to the service of God. This giving the children to the service of God involves our preparing them for that service. Again we say our schools are established for this very purpose.

Now is the time to begin to plan for the school work of our sons and daughters for this coming year. It will take effort and denial. To many it will seem impossible to put forth this effort and make this denial. But it can and should be done. It will yield an abundant reward. This reward will not be hereafter only, but the joy of here seeing our children in the service of the Lord is in itself an abundant one.

So let us all as parents do our full duty in commanding our children and our household after us that they may keep the way of the Lord. F. G.