“The Most Important Job in the World”
Proverbs 22:6

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Pastor Kevin Vogts
Trinity Lutheran Church
Paola, Kansas
Fifth Sunday of Easter–Mother’s Day—May 14, 2017

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

What is the most important job in the world?  President of the United States?  Famous inventor of marvelous machines?  Doctor discovering miracle cures?  Actually, many of us already hold the most important job in the world: parent.

It’s that time of the year when college and high school graduations are taking place.  It’s a year of graduation milestones for our family.  Our oldest graduated from college last weekend, and our youngest will graduate from high school this afternoon. We tend to think of our little ones always under our care and guidance.  But, they will grow into a life of their own, and we must prepare them for it.  That surely is the most important job in the world.

Proverbs says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”  But the opposite is also true: fail to train up your child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will suffer for it.  Researchers have noted a common thread in the lives of many criminals: a lack of parental direction and discipline in their younger years.  Of course, even those with the best upbringing can wander off the right path.  But, a good foundation in early life is a child’s the best hope for happiness and success.

Parents often fret when their children leave the nest at around age 18.  But, by then it is practically too late.  The time to focus on your children’s future is in their youngest years.  That will set the pattern for their lives. 

Maybe you cannot leave your children a big inheritance in the way of money and property.  But, there is a much greater, much more valuable inheritance and heritage that is within the grasp of every parent.  Paul puts it this way in Ephesians, “Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”  “Let the little children come to me,” Jesus says, “and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” 

That is the greatest gift you can pass on to your children, bringing them to Jesus.  Sharing with them the Good News that “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  The Good News that their sins and your sins and the sins of the whole world are forgiven on account of Jesus Christ.  As Peter and Paul say in Acts, “Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. . .  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”

For parents these days, there are so many important things to consider in your children’s upbringing: good education, appropriate discipline, proper socialization, developing a positive feeling of self-worth.  And there is an abundance of organizations and activities to help in your children’s growth and development.  These things are important and they have their place.

But, in the hectic shuffle of modern life, don’t neglect your children’s greatest need: training and instruction in the Lord.  Bring them faithfully to worship, Sunday School, Confirmation classes.

And consider the advice of Abraham Lincoln: “If you will train up a child in the way he should go, then you must walk that way yourself.”  You know how children learn by observation and imitation.  It is so cute when little children copy your actions.  Well, later on in life they will copy your habits, your words, your attitudes.  So, in your life set them a Christian example by your own words and deeds.  For instance, teach them the habit of regular attendance at church and Sunday School by faithfully attending with them yourself.

On the back cover of today’s bulletin is a “Recipe for Raising Children.”  This could be a good Mother’s Day or Father’s Day sermon all by itself:

1 Cup of Psalm 127:3—“Children are a heritage from the Lord, a blessing from him.”  You see, your children are just on loan to you from the Lord.  He has entrusted them into your care because he thinks that in all the world you are the parent for this child.

1 Cup of Proverbs 22:6—“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” 

2 Tablespoons of Mark 10:14—“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

Carefully mix in Proverbs 13:24 and Hebrews 12:11 as needed—“He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him”; “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Balance with generous measures of Colossians 3:21 and Ephesians 6:4—“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged”; “ Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

Sprinkle in generous amounts of Ephesians 6:18—“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

Stir together in a pot called home, adjusting ingredients as seems best to achieve proper consistency.  Let rise for approximately 18 years and then serve to the world. 

Important: For good results, do not use a pressure cooker for this recipe.

God bless you as you continue doing your best for the Lord in the most important job in the world.

Amen.