Where and When Should Character Training Take Place?

Deuteronomy 6: 6 & 7 (NKVJ) points to where and when we can train our children in character:

“…You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

Where: God was instructing the children of Israel to teach their children about the Lord and His ways every place they found themselves! In our times, we could say that we are to teach our children God’s principles at home, out walking and driving around, before bed, when they first get up in the mornings—and any place we are just “hanging out” with them.

When: God was instructing the children of Israel to teach their children about the Lord and His ways all day and night! In our times, we could say that we are to teach our children God’s principles anytime we are with them (which should be often to get all of these locations and times of teaching in!)—when we are at home together, when we are out and about, when we put them to bed, when we get them up in the mornings—and any time we are just “hanging out” with them.

Our associate pastor calls living the Christian life with others “doing life together.” In that sense, we should teach our children God’s ways while we are “doing life together” with them. I think it probably makes God sad to see the small amounts of time that we often spend with our children. I mean, it seems as though He planned for us to “do life” with our kids a lot—and teach them as we went along.

Another verse that sheds light on our teaching our children about living for God is found in Isaiah 28:10 (KJV)—“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little.”

When we spend a lot of time with our children—and when we see our role and responsibility in raising our sons and daughters for God—we will have opportunity to teach a little “here” and a little “there”—we will build “precept upon precept” on the previous “mini lessons” that we have taught them. And character training will be a way of life for us as inferred in God’s instruction to the children of Israel.