Posted by Matt Markins in Someone recently asked me this question. What a great question! Although much of the emphasis of D6 is on “impressing” God’s commands and His love onto the hearts of children, Deuteronomy 6 is for everyone on the face of the planet.
Essentially it says three things: Love God, Know his Word, and Teach it to your Kids.
Two out of those three items apply to everyone in the universe, regardless of your parental status. Each of us are called to love God with our heart, soul and strength. Everyone is called to know His Word and His message. Many may not have children. If we do not have kids we are still called to live out Timothy 2:2. If we do not have kids, we can still invest in the lives of the next generation. If we do not have kids, we can still help resource, train and equip parents and grandparents…this should be our holy ambition.
Check out what pastor Morgan says in this video: that everyone is called to Love God and to Know His Word. Even though it is directed to parents, if you really listen to what he is saying, you will see that it emphasizes how D6 is relevant to any follower of Christ regardless of whether you have kids or not.
I also find encouragement in attending a church who places such a great emphasis on family and raising children in a biblical manner–even though I don’t have kids. This type of commitment creates healthier families, which makes for a stronger body of Christ–a body which I belong to. Thus, when I do have children, they will be introduced to a body of believers who champions spiritual growth, following Jesus, accountability, and encouragement. That is priceless!
Matt – This is an excellent answer to a great question. Great post!
There are so many single-parent homes today and those parents could use all the help they can get raising their children in the way of the Lord.
Also according to research by Search Institute their are in 40 Developmental Assets that contribute to common sense, positive experiences and qualities that help influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults. One of those assests is adults, other than parents, speaking into the lives of children. I know as a parent of a teenage daughter, I would welcome another adult of any age from my church family building a relationship with her and offering her a postive, godly influence.
Even if you don’t have your own children you can volunteer to serve in the children’s ministry at your church and participate in raising the next generation of spiritual champions. If you don’t feel comfortable around children, there are many administrative and other miscellaneous tasks that you could take part in. If you are a prayer warrior, get connected to the children’s pastor and families in your church to find out how you can pray specifically for the next generation.
You could even go a step beyond your church walls and offer some type of afterschool or backyard Bible Study for your neighborhood children.
Wherever you are in your spiritual walk, I encourage you to ask God how you can use the gifts he has given you to impress Him upon the moldable hearts of the next generation. He may come up with something that is more than you would have ever imagined, but you will never know until you ask.
Whatever you choose to do to impact the next generation, You will probably need to move beyond your comfort zone and apply a little effort. So as Pastor Morgan said, such action will reqire you to apply ALL your heart, soul, mind, and strength. I can’t think of anything more worthy of your time and effort than leaving a legacy of faith to the next generation. As my daughters cheer squad says, “Go! Fight! Win!”