Text: Deuteronomy 6:5-9
Memory verse:
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.”
Isaiah 11:6 NKJV
No remarkable development can be experienced in a nation with leadership problem. All sectors of national development depend on leadership. Faulty leadership is like a pride of lions being led by a goat; true leadership is like a herd of goats led by a lion!
Leadership problem does not just begin in a day. It is the sum total of the effects of the environment, culture, upbringing and friendship on the mindset of a person over the years. Solving this long-term problem will therefore require a long-term approach. It is much easier to begin to condition the flexible and open minds of our children towards true leadership than working to recondition the minds of the adults that are already set (Deu 1:39). Like Confucius said, “If your plan is for one year plant rice. If your plan is for ten years plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years educate children.” If we actually dream of a better future, let’s begin to train our children in leadership, according to our text.
Teach them to have a right perspective of money. Most of our youths today are being misled. This is also causing our teeming youths to crave for money, throwing away values to engage in all forms of evil practices such as internet fraud (yahoo yahoo), human rituals, kidnapping, armed robbery etc. Our children need to be taught that money is important for wellbeing but money is not everything (Luke 12:15). You may have money to pay for your resort holiday but money can’t buy you happiness. It can’t buy you eternity. Money is meant to be a servant and not a master (Matt 6:24). Money becomes a master when you don’t mind giving up God, your health, your family and your values to have it. Money should be a means to an end and not an end.
Children should learn how to manage money, practice budgeting instead of impulsive spending. Give them allowance and help them to open a bank account. Teach them how to value money and to spend wisely, by buying only what they need rather than what they want. Leave them to decide on what to spend and to save.
Leadership training should begin from childhood.
Prayer points
1. Father, please, help me to be intentional about teaching true leadership to our children and youths in Jesus name.
2. Father, help me not to mislead them in Jesus name.
Today’s declarations
1. I believe it’s easier to condition the virgin minds of children than reconditioning adults’ already set minds.
2. I have a role to play in making our future great by teaching children true leadership.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng