The "Why" of What You Do
Have you ever heard your child moan, "Why do I have to learn this?" Have you ever been so stressed that all you could say is, "Because I said so!"? It's winter, you're tired, the holiday bills have arrived, and you're wondering how you can accomplish all the school work left to do this year. Now is the opportunity to remember that the reason you teach (and the reason your children learn) is so that your child will have a vibrant, personal relationship with God. Each subject you teach reveals a different aspect of God's personality and our relationship to Him. The reason you teach the Bible is so that your children will know what truth is and be able to discern when truth is being twisted. You teach the Bible not so your children can win awards at Bible memorization, but so that the verses they memorize are written on their hearts and minds as useful criteria for all the choices in their lives. You teach the Bible so they will know who God is and recognize His attributes so their faith can remain strong during both trials and victories. The reason you teach mathematics is to recognize that God is not chaotic but loves order. When you discipline your mind to think sequentially and logically, you gain an understanding of how God thinks. It requires humility and submission to accept that math works according to rules God designed rather than random whims of man or nature. Giving in to you child's plea that they can "use a calculator if they ever need to figure this out" denies them the opportunity to understand the order and structure whice God has woven into the fabric of human life. The reason you teach science is to observe and appreciate the majesty of God's creation. Looking, touching, and experimenting with the vastness of God's handiwork develops a love of God and gives your child living illustrations of spiritual principles so they can be reverent and worshipful. Through the exercise of the scientific process your child has the opportunity to be taught by God about the interrelatedness of all things. Once your children have been thrilled by the wonders of science, they will be inspired to be better stewards of the things God has created. The reason you teach language arts is so that God can communicate with your child and that child can have the skills to share God with other people. The disciplines of reading, writing, foreign language, grammar, and public speaking give your child the tools needed to serve God effectively. The reason you teach social studies is to understand the sin nature of man and his need for a Savior. God made history not to glorify man, but to show how God has consistently worked in the lives of people (despite their failings) throughout time. It is His story that we teach. A culture's ability to live, grow and create are all interconnected with that culture's perception of who God is and their relationship to Him. The reason you teach fine arts and life skills is so that you have a means of worshipping God. Art, music, drama, carpentry, gardening, cooking, and all the other physical skills of life and be done with a heightened awareness of being made in God's image and sharing in God's creativity. Being able to do something well gives us confidence and joy that makes it worth participating in life. When you change your thinking about why you teach your children, you automatically change the atmosphere of your home. Your attitude toward learning and your spiritual enthusiasm for interconnecting all subjects with their Creator will give your child a "why" for studying that will enrich their lives and impact the lives of your grandchildren. For more insight and encouragement, CHECK suggest that you visit:
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