Do you remember learning to ride a bicycle? Did your bike have training wheels? Did someone run along beside you to get you going? One of the great challenges of youth, after learning to walk, is learning to ride a bicycle. It requires balance and a sense of self confidence. To assist in this process, manufacturers came up with a special set of wheels that are attached to the back wheel of a bicycle. The two little wheels attached to the back wheel are there to help provide balance and confidence to the rider. It provides balance whenever the rider leans too far to the left or to the right. It provides confidence because the little wheels don’t always touch the ground. The rider builds courage because he or she actually rides under their own power until they begin to lean. Knowing that the wheels are there in case of a fall builds confidence.
Some who have never had bikes equipped with training wheels had to learn the old fashioned way. A parent or friend ran along beside the rider holding on until the rider got under way. Though wobbly at first, the rider got the hang of riding after a few crashes. Parents get tired but training wheels don’t. Training wheels were always attached. Riders who used training wheels never had to wait for someone to catch their breath. Training wheels were convenient.
Training wheels serve a purpose, but there comes a time when training wheels are no longer necessary. Let’s look at the little boy who was being trained to ride his bike by his father. On the first day out his father said to him. "Son, there are three things you should always remember if you are going to learn to ride a bike." The excited son committed all three to memory: "Keep your eye on the road, don’t lean to the left or the right and remember daddy’s right there." As the boy mounted the bike his father had him to repeat the three rules and then ran along beside him shouting encouragement and reminding the boy to keep repeating the three rules.. After each ride the boy was excited and thrilled. After the third ride has father ride along side him but didn’t say anything as the boy kept reciting the three rules. One day he mounted the bike as usual and took off chanting to himself "Keep your eye on the road, don’t lean to the left or the right and remember daddy’s right there!" Two blocks up the road he looked back and was surprised to find out that his daddy had not made the run with him but was waving from the front yard. When the boy returned the father said "Son let this be a lesson to you in life. You will succeed if you can keep your eye on the road, never stray to left or right and remember, even when you can’t see him, not me, your heavenly father’s right there!"
As Christians, we know that as we travel through life that our heavenly father is always there to help us. If we fall, he’ll pick us up. If we stumble, he’ll catch us. Our goal is to move through life with the full knowledge that God loves us and is always by our side.
This familiar text shares the Wisdom of Solomon on the raising of a child. Solomon, generally considered the wisest man the world has ever known, wrote hundreds of proverbs or wise sayings that were based upon his experience in life and truths revealed to him by God. Among those was this single admonition about child rearing. Greater insight into the passage shows the full thrust of its meaning. Solomon urges parents to train children. The Hebrew word for "train" is "chanak" (khaw-nak’) which has a variety of meanings that reveal the full extent of Solomon’s concern. DISCIPLINE, DEDICATION and THROTTLE
Training Wheels
Learning how to live is like learning to ride a bicycle. In the beginning we need a little help. We need training wheels. We really need someone to run along beside us to keep us from falling. The role of good parents is to implement the three dimensions of "Chanak" in the lives of our children.
A SENSE OF DISCIPLINE: The three aspects of discipline are self control, character and orderliness. Every child should be taught self control. It begins at home when he or she learns to obey the rules of the home. That’s when the child learns that there is a time and appropriate place for certain actions. Speaking out of turn, interrupting the conversation of others, disrespectful behavior are all signs of an undisciplined child. Controlling the impulses, selecting friends and deciding upon acceptable activity are other areas that indicate discipline. Character involves values. There are 13 important values that every child should be taught at home, at school and in every organization or group in which he or she participates: Honesty, loyalty, helpfulness, , friendliness, courtesy, kindness, obedience, cheerfulness, thrift, courage, cleanliness, respect for God and a good education. These values develop the essentials of character. They are learned in childhood. They are difficult to learn or unlearn in adulthood. In addition to self control and character, orderliness is another essential. Learning orderliness is important because it allows us to easily follow rules and to gain control of life’s situations. A lack of order results in chaos.
A SENSE OF PURPOSE: Every child should be instilled with a sense of purpose. The sense of purpose is the "reason" why we exist, go to school, or worship. Every child should know that he or she is God’s special representative and is learning everything needed to represent him. Every child’s sense of self should be developed to the point that they know who they are without the need for a Nike "swoosh" mark to tell them that they are somebody. They should know that they are special because they are children of God.
ENCOURAGING SUPPORT: Parents should exercise a throttling influence. They should open up the throttle and encourage children who are involved in healthy, wholesome activity through their presence and moral support. The intense encouragement and visible presence for those activities that are acceptable has a throttling effect when it is withheld. It suggests that a planned activity is not acceptable and does not meet family standards. Every parent should keep their eyes focused on the throttle for it can often be as effective as the rod. Train up a child, says Solomon, in the way he should go. Nurture them says Paul to the Ephesians. Do it all at the time that it is most effective and the result will most likely be a child that grows up in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
The Three Rules of Life
Good Parents teach their children to ride the bike of life. As much as they can they run beside them. They support them with training wheels to keep them from falling. Yet the general words of every parent seem to be remarkably familiar, keep your eyes on the road, don’t lean to the left or right and remember, daddy’s right there!
Training wheels can take us just so far, but there comes a point in life when we need to know that daddy’s there! We know that our heavenly father is right by our side. Even the best riders sometime run into life problems.
Sometimes the finest bike can’t go anywhere because it has a flat tire. That’s when its good to know that you are not riding alone!
Sometimes the chain jumps off track, the brakes don’t work, or the handle bars come loose and can’t steer your bike in the right direction, that’s when its good to know that you’re not alone!
Sometimes good bikes are stolen when carelessly left unprotected. Stolen from schools. Stolen from churches. Stolen from our homes!
How many innocent young people have had their lives stolen from the them. Stolen by drugs. Stolen by criminally oriented friends. Stolen impulsive actions that ended in tragedy!
When your bike has been stolen and you find yourself walking alone, that’s when the words of the song writer seem to have new meaning:
"When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high and don’t be afraid of the dark ...for you’ll never walk alone!"
Every young person should remember to keep his eye on the road, never stray to the left or right and remember, come what may, God is always by your side!
It’s good to know that the Lord never leaves you alone!
In the middle of the storm, he is a comforting presence!
In the middle of doubt, he is the voice of assurance!
In the middle of defeat, he is the hope of victory!
In the middle of failure, he is the prospect of success!
In the middle of rejection he is the essence of acceptance!
In the middle of sadness, he is the picture of gladness!
The Lord will never leave you to walk alone!
No wonder the song writer declare: I want Jesus to walk with me. While I’m on the tedious journey, Lord I want Jesus to walk with me!
Jesus, who died on Calvary!
Jesus, who arose after three days and nights!
I heard Jesus say "Behold I’ll be with you alway, even until the end of the earth!"
"I’ve seen the lightning flashing and heard the thunder roll.
"I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, which tried to conquer my soul!
"I’ve heard the voice of my savior, He bid me still fight on!
"He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone!
No never alone!
No never alone!
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone!
You must know the Lord for yourself
You might be able to explain that there are 66 books in the Bible, 39 in the Old and 27 in the New, but you must know the Lord for yourself!
You may be able to explain that the Bible contains books of prophecy, literature, history and doctrine, but you must also know the Lord for yourself!
You may be able to explain that the Bible has 3,586,489 letters 773,692 words, 31,173 verses, and 1,189 chapters but you must also know the Lord.
You may know that the longest verse in the Bible is Esther 8:9, and the shortest in the English language is John 11:35 "Jesus Wept" but you must also know Lord for yourself!
When you know the Lord for Yourself, you know that when you are:
--Sick, He will be a Doctor in your sickroom!
--In Trouble, He will be a Lawyer in your courtroom!
--Lost and confused, He will make a way out of no way!
--Hungry and thirsty, He will feed you with bread on high. That’s why the old warriors cried out "Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more!"
When you know the Lord for yourself, you know He will pick you up when you are stumbling!
When you know the Lord for yourself He will plant your feet on solid ground!
When you know the Lord for yourself, He will give you a new song to sing, a new walk to walk and a new talk to talk!
No wonder the song writer says, "It’s good to know Jesus, it’s good to know the Lord!"
Every saint should keep telling the world about the words of God, but we should also let the world know that we know Lord ourselves!
Tell them about Jesus!
Tell them how even at 12 years old he was about his father’s business!
Tell them how He lived on this Earth for 33 long years!
Tell them how he healed the sick and raised the dead!
Tell them how He bore an old rugged cross!
Tell them how He died out on Calvary!
But, don’t forget to tell them that, early Sunday morning, He arose from the grave with all power in His hands!
