And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).
By considering the realms in which Christ matured during His youth, parents will be helped to focus their efforts in bringing up their children . . .”and He continued in subjection to [His parents] . . . And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:51, 52).”
Since Jesus increased in wisdom, parents should nurture their children’s intellects. Train them to use their minds, not neglect them. Promote a love of learning and the ability to apply knowledge to living in the world. You can know a lot and still be a fool.
Since Jesusincreased in stature, parents should help their children to prepare their bodies for the rigors and discipline of labor and service. Direct them to glorify God in their bodies and “to present their bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is [their] spiritual service of worship (I Corinthians 6:20 and Romans 12:1)”. Warn them of the dangers of gluttony, laziness and idleness. Nurture healthy habits of diligence, work, rest, recreation and nutrition.
Since Jesus grew in favor with God, parents should nurture their children’s spiritual growth. Jesus was more mature spiritually at 10 years of age than He was at 4, growing in the knowledge of the will of His heavenly Father; and with knowledge His obedience increased. Instruct your children in the ways that God requires.
Since Jesus grew in favor with men, parents should nurture their children socially. Jesus was not uncomfortable in the social setting, becoming familiar with the customs and social graces of His culture. There was nothing strange about His clothing, His appearance or His dealings with other men. In terms of the social customs Jesus was not reactionary or revolutionary. Branching out beyond the home, He learned the give and take of personal relationships and how to engage with the people of this world. He was not merely put up with and barely tolerated, but He had a winsomeness, “increasing in favor with men.”
