Our Children''s Inheritance

Isaiah 39:8, "So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, 'The word of the lord which you have spoken is good!' For he said, 'At least there will be peace and truth in my days.'"

Isaiah chapter 39 is a puzzling chapter. Here we have King Hezekiah of the Southern Kingdom of Judah and Benjamin. Hezekiah was one of the greatest kings in Israel's history, yet here, after his life has been extended by 15 years as he is healed from what appears to be cancer, we get this confounding statement in verse 8.

Here after his illness, Hezekiah receives envoys from Babylon, and then foolishly shows them all the wealth of Jerusalem and his kingdom. Isaiah the prophet then confronts Hezekiah, telling him what will be the consequences of his actions. He reveals to Hezekiah that his entire kingdom will be taken into captivity by Babylon. All his wealth and even his children, his sons, will be carried away. It even says his sons will be made eunuchs! So can I ask a question here? How, as Hezekiah said in verse 8, is this good? Hezekiah here, is more focused on his well being than his children's well being, and sadly, that describes many in our generation today who are raising children.

In our society, we are raising the first generation in American history that is set to enjoy a lower standard of living than their parents. Many parents today are smothered in debt requiring both parents to work full time jobs simply to pay the bills and keep the possessions that have been accumulated. As a result, children learn poor money management and focus on things instead of right relationships. The family today spends less time together as a unit than at any time in history. Parents, with hectic schedules, wind up parenting individually instead of as a pair. Nightly family dinners used to be a fixture, now they are the exception. Children are appeased instead of receiving proper discipline, for the convenience of the parents. While all parents desire a close relationship with their children, a child needs a parent, not a best friend. And this does not even take into account the struggles of the over 30% of parents who are single and raising children.

Spiritually, the legacy many are leaving their children is even more disastrous. Fewer families attend church today than ever before. Parents, your child not wanting to attend church, is no reason for them not to be in church. Many children have never seen their parents pray together, other than grace at a meal. Family devotions and bible study are almost non-existent. Someone once said, "To our forefathers the Christian faith was an experience; To our fathers it was an inheritance; To our generation it is a convenience; And to our children it is a nuisance." Spiritually, we are raising an illiterate generation.

I am not a parent, but I know many. I see the struggles and hear their frustrations as they endeavor to raise children in this wicked generation. I do not believe their has ever been a time more difficult in history to raise a child. Which means it is more important than ever to focus on our children's future than our own well being. The inheritance we leave them, both societal and spiritual, is upon us. Will it be an inheritance based upon God's standard and His vision of the family, or one corrupted by the world. Our future, and theirs, truly hinges upon this decision.