Easy recipe for spoiled fruit
Start with lots of blessings.Let those blessings turn to rot.Romans 6:1; 2:4Examples of spoiling
Giving too much permissionProverbs 29:15Giving too much stuffLuke 15:12-13Giving too much disciplineColossians 3:21Why do we spoil our children?
Selfishness – easier to give stuff than sacrifice:My timeMy effortMy preferencesMy emotional comfortMy prideMy easeMisguided compassionGiving all my timeGiving all my effortGiving them all their preferencesPreserving their emotional comfortReinforcing their prideMaking them always at easeThe danger of spoiling your kids …
Destination without the journeyThey will try to start their adult lives with all that you have now, starting at the point that it took you decades to reach.Creates a selfish, entitlement mentality.Something is wrong if:Others don’t serve meI don’t get my wayI don’t get what I want, when I want itCreates expectations, defines normalDiscontentmentRebellionFoolish, near-sighted decisionsSpoiled … fruitful?
Galatians 5:22-23Imagine the outcome if you spoil your child with …Deuteronomy 6:5-9 – Time spent daily as a family in devotion to God, reading, meditating on, and discussing His word together.I Thessalonians 5:16 – Rejoicing in the Lord.Ephesians 4:29 – Days filled with words of exhortation.I Thessalonians 5:17 – Praying frequently.Hebrews 12:11 – Discipline for their good, yielding peaceful fruits of righteousness.Ephesians 4:3; Hebrews 13:1; John 13:35 – Peace and unity in the local church.Beware!
They might reach the destination without the same struggles of your journey.You may create someone obsessed with receiving an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled.They may think something is wrong if:Days are filled with entertainment and self-satisfactionThere is complainingWords are used idly and for tearing downOthers are quick to gossipLife is undisciplined and fulfilling the desires of the fleshThere is division and unrest among brethrenThey may have unrealistic expectations that clash with the reality of those around them, living a life …Discontentment with others’ apathy toward spiritual thingsRebelling against society inciting others to rise up, tooMaking foolish decisions with eternity in mindBut the danger still holds true
They must learn spiritual wealth does not come easyIt takes their investment and effortIt needs their growth mindsetThey must defend against thieves who would swindle them of their inheritanceThey have to cherish and value it – understand how much they must be willing to give up for itTimeEffortPreferencesEmotional comfortPrideEaseHow should we proceed?
Deuteronomy 8Deuteronomy 8:2-5 – Give discipline, direction, provision, and hungerDeuteronomy 8:6-14 – With reward and warningDeuteronomy 8:16 – With purpose (Hebrews 12:10)Deuteronomy 8:18
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