Showing Partiality

“My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.” James 2:1. We should keep this verse before us in every situation in which we deal with people and, of course, in our relationships with our own children. This means that parents must be humble and open to the fact that not every one of their children may have a calling to be the bride of Jesus Christ. Of course, we work with the attitude that all of them have such a glorious calling, but at the same time, we respect the decisions that our young people make when they are of age.

Lowly thoughts and humility are very fitting where chil­dren are concerned. We work in faith and hope, but our work must never leave a taste of human greatness or success. It is only by the grace of God that our work will stand. Despite all their knowledge, many accomplished psychologists see their children end up in wretchedness. Humility is an essential ele­ment in all of these relationships if we, as parents, want to be preserved as vessels of mercy. This applies especially to the work with our own children at home, where we need to take Paul’s exhortation to heart: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Cor. 10:12.

Where there has been godliness through generations, a mother can be like an encyclopedia, filled with God’s wisdom for her children and grandchildren. “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.” Ps. 90:1. Then many diffi­culties can be resolved within the family, and the ministers in the church can be spared a lot of work. You can build up a treasure chest from which to draw blessings for generations to come. For example, just think what it means for the upcom­ing generation to have a grandmother whom they are fond of, who can see ahead and look back into the past, and who sees and knows that God blesses a God-fearing generation! They can set up Ebenezer stones in thankfulness for what God has done and in faith for what they believe He will continue to do for them and their descendants. “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’” 1 Sam. 7:12.