Here we are again, facing another new school year! Those of you with
school age children have made certain material preparations in anticipation
of the coming year. Books, paper, pencils, pens, glue etc. have all been
purchased and set aside for use. Even so, is this all the groundwork that
is necessary for a successful school year? Does this mean that everyone
is prepared simply by purchasing a list of school supplies?
While growing up, I attended public school and I remember the annual pep
rally that was held in the gymnasium, put on for us by all the teachers
that first week of school. Such a rally was held in hopes of priming the
students for the coming year. The obvious concern of faculty and even
the concern home schooling mothers have for their children today is whether
or not student's minds are geared up, as well as the minds of the educators!
What sort of inner preparation must occur before our children are ready
to learn? What would you say is the best environment for those that are
going to teach?
Today we will look at Paul's instructions for Titus concerning the things
that he should teach in order that the proper setting is achieved in society.
If what Paul told Titus must be the state of mind of citizens outside
of their homes, then it should first be an attitude found inside our homes!
Thorough preparation generates a proper environment for learning and ends
in a successful school year for everyone involved. To find out what program
of study Paul utilized, turn to Titus 3 and let's begin with verse 1:
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates,
to be ready to every good work.
TO BE SUBJECT
Paul said here, "Put them in mind" - meaning, "teach". As a governess,
you are putting certain things into the mind of the student. First on
Paul's list of things to make clear is being subject to principalities
and powers. You see, ladies, respect for authority is essential if any
learning is to be done! Without a ready heart, individuals are void of
a teachable spirit and lack humility of mind. If you are a mother who
has chosen to home school, you better put your children in mind of WHO
the authority is in your home as you commence the school year! It is the
adults, not the children! YOU call the shots, not them! If your children
do not respect you as their authority, home education will be very difficult
for all of you. Before I ever opened the books and started reading, writing,
or arithmetic, I would be sure my children understood just who's going
to be the boss. Otherwise you'll be begging little Johnny and Suzy to
do their work all year and you'll stoop to make deals with them just to
get their assignments done! Do your children need a little "pep rally"
to remind them of WHO the authority is in your home?
Ephesians 6:1-2
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy
father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise...
Parental obedience is a command to children that God expects parents to
strictly enforce. Have you been negligent of this duty, dear mother? If
so, then this pep rally is also for you! Because our church is known as
one that supports home education, a lot of home schooling families visit
us to see what we are all about. This has afforded me the opportunity
to observe the general condition of various homes. I must confess that
in numerous cases there are children that have not yet learned to be in
subjection to their parents. It seems that shaping minds has taken precedence
over shaping hearts while knowledge is emphasized more than attitude!
Ladies, God says we are not just to instruct the mind but our hearts too,
with wisdom from the Word of God! 1 Cor. 3:11 states, "For other foundation
can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Leave out this
and you will neglect a balanced education! Are your children smarter than
they are sweet?? Are they truly wise, or just smart-mouthed?? There is
a big difference between the two and it's quite evident. First teach your
children to be subject to authority so you can create the proper atmosphere
for instruction, laying the right foundation for a successful school year!
Psalm 34:11
Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
By way of our church, I have also observed among many home educating families
that where there are problems with stubborn and resistant children there
are usually stubborn and resistant wives in the home as well! Perhaps
this is why the children have not yet mastered respect for their mother's
authority, becoming argumentative and uncooperative with her as their
educational supervisor. Dear wife, how do you suppose you are going to
instruct your children at home, expecting and enforcing them to submit
to your authority, if you are unwilling to subject yourself to their father's
authority, your husband?? How fit for learning do you think the environment
would be at other schools if teachers resisted the principal and the school
board's authority? No doubt if the students caught wind of such an attitude
among their superiors they would be inclined to adopt the same way of
thinking and their behavior would follow suit. No matter who we are, we
must honor those that have the rule over us… Submission starts at the
top and its attitude makes it's way down the ranks. Let's make sure everyone
begins the school year with proper respect for authority!
TO OBEY
As we return to our main text, we find that next on Paul's syllabus that
he exhorts Titus to teach is to obey. Once subjection to authority is
in rooted in the heart, obedience should follow. The two go hand in hand.
With your husband as the primary authority in the home, you can carry
out your role of home educating your children, having them follow your
leadership with an attitude of obedience. Ladies, that means that when
you ask your kiddies to do a certain assignment or project etc. they should
cooperate and comply with your wishes, minus the resistance - and might
I add, minus the complaining! Obedience must be wholehearted, not half
hearted - otherwise it is disobedience. Are you teaching your children
wholehearted obedience as Paul encouraged Titus to teach? As citizens
in society, we may not always agree with those in authority over us or
respect their person. However, God requires us to submit to our authorities,
unless they are asking us to go against scripture to obey them. This keeps
the atmosphere of society one in which we can dwell safely and amiably,
with respect and regard to the authorities God has placed over us. Obedience
brings order to the community and the nation at large. Likewise, order
is brought into homes where obedience prevails. When our children willingly
obey the "law of the land" so to speak, there is peace and unity in the
home, and much is accomplished as a result. Are your children responding
properly to your say-so, dear mother? If not, you've got your first lesson
laid out before you!
TO BE READY TO EVERY GOOD WORK
Only when your children know who the authority is and when they respond
in willing obedience to that authority will they be ready for the next
part our main text brings to light today and that is, being ready to every
good work! Yes, sweet cooperation is possible once the proper foundation
has been laid. Ladies, a successful school year requires more than pens
and pencils, paper and glue... Apart from submission and obedience you
won't have a supportive following. (So it is between you and your husband!)
If you want your children to fall in line with your educational schedule
and curriculum choices, then put them in remembrance of subjection and
obedience first! Not surprisingly, most of those who have grown up in
a standardless society strongly resist any sort of controlled behavior;
they are unwilling to comply with any rule but their own. Countless classrooms
across America are filled with students whose hearts are hardened toward
authority in general. Do you want the seats in your home taken up with
unreasonable, unteachable pupils? Cease not to teach Jesus and you will
have students zealous in their work. If we follow God's daily lesson plans,
everyone is guaranteed a profitable school year and lives that will bring
glory to Him!
Acts 5:42
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach
and preach Jesus Christ.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003
