3:15.
9. What is said of his mother and his grandmother?
"When I call to remembrance _the unfeigned faith_ that is in thee, _which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice_." 2 Tim. 1:5.
NOTE.-No position in life is superior to that of the mother, no influence more potent for good or evil. "All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my mother," said Abraham Lincoln. "All that I have ever accomplished in life, I owe to my mother," declared D. L.
Moody. "A kiss from my mother," said Benjamin West, "made me a painter." "My mother was the making of me," declares the noted inventor, Thomas A. Edison. And Andrew Carnegie, the millionaire, who gave his mother his earnings when a boy, adds, "I am deeply touched by the remembrance of one to whom I owe everything that a wise mother ever gave to a son who adored her." It has been truly said that the home is the primeval school, the best, the most hallowed, and the most potential of all academies, and that the mother is the first, the most influential, and therefore the most important of all teachers. See poem on page 721.
Teaching The Children
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
The Child Timothy. "From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation." 2 Tim. 3:15.
1. What should be the prayer of every parent?
"O my Lord, ... teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born." Judges 13:8.
NOTE.-This is a part of the prayer of Manoah, the father of Samson.
2. How should our children be taught?
"All thy children shall be _taught of the Lord_; and great shall be the peace of thy children." Isa. 54:13.
3. What will happen if a child is not properly instructed?
"A child left to himself _bringeth his mother to shame_." Prov. 29:15.
4. How did Solomon"s parents regard him as a child?
"I was my father"s _son, tender and only beloved_ in the sight of my mother." Prov. 4:3.
5. What does Solomon say his father did for him as a child?
"He _taught me also_, and said unto me, _Let thine heart retain my words; keep my commandments, and live_." Prov. 4:4.
6. From what time does David say he himself was taught?
"O G.o.d, Thou hast taught me _from my youth_." Ps. 71:17.
7. How should all Christian parents bring up their children?
"Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up _in the nurture and admonition of the Lord_." Eph. 6:4.
8. How was Moses taught during the days of his early childhood?
_By faith_, under the instruction of a devoted mother. See Heb. 11:23; Ex.
2:1-10.
NOTE.-The hiding of Moses was at the time when Pharaoh, king of Egypt, had issued a decree that every Hebrew male child should be killed as soon as he was born, to prevent too rapid an increase of the Hebrews. The second chapter of Exodus tells the story of the finding of Moses by the king"s daughter, and his being brought up by his own mother employed as a nurse. She was a woman of faith, and her teaching of Moses was such that after he had been at the Egyptian court till he "was come to years," he chose to suffer affliction with G.o.d"s people rather than to enjoy the honor of succeeding to the throne of Egypt as the adopted heir. He became the leader of G.o.d"s people when they escaped from the Egyptian bondage, and after he died, he was raised to life and taken to heaven. See Heb. 11:24-26; Jude 9; Matt. 17:1-3.
9. How was Joseph regarded by his father?
"Israel _loved Joseph_ more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age." Gen. 37:3.
NOTE.-The wonderful record of Joseph"s life, found in Genesis 37-50, shows that he lived intimately with his father till he was seventeen years of age. He must have been carefully taught of G.o.d also, for in all his marvelous experience as slave, prisoner, and premier of Egypt, he remained true to his heavenly Father, not a single sin being recorded of him to the day of his death.
10. How was Esther brought up?
"He [Mordecai the Jew] brought up Hada.s.sah, that is, Esther, his uncle"s daughter, ... when her father and mother were dead." Esther 2:7.
NOTE.-Mordecai was a man who feared and served G.o.d, as is shown by his wise and courageous counsel to Esther, and by his own Christian conduct when the lives of both were at stake in their efforts to save the people of G.o.d from destruction while in captivity in Medo-Persia. He undoubtedly taught Esther from childhood to fear and serve G.o.d. Otherwise she would not have met the crisis with such fearless courage and such confidence in G.o.d.
11. After she became queen of Persia, how did Esther show her integrity to G.o.d?
By risking her life to save her own people. "Then Esther bade them [the messengers] return Mordecai this answer: Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish." Esther 4:15, 16.
12. How early does Paul say Timothy was instructed?
"_From a child_ thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation." 2 Tim. 3:15.
13. How earnestly should parents teach their children the things of G.o.d?
"Thou shalt teach them _diligently_ unto thy children." "Ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them _when thou sittest in thine house_, and _when thou walkest by the way_, _when thou liest down_, and _when thou risest up_." Deut. 6:7; 11:19.
14. What reward in this life is promised the faithful mother?
"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." Prov. 31:28.
15. What beautiful picture of home life is drawn by the psalmist for the father who fears the Lord?
"Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the side of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord." Ps. 128:3, 4.
16. What motive will inspire all true parents to faithfulness in teaching their children?