"Don't Take Candy From Strangers!"

This is a phrase kids have heard for a long time.  I’m sure they heard it numerous times a few weeks ago during Halloween.  My parents used to tell me that all the time.  Not exactly sure why.  I’ve never had a stranger offer me candy.  When I was growing up I couldn’t even get people I knew to give me candy let alone strangers.  Obviously in our day, this is good advice for any parent to give their children because sadly you cannot trust everyone.  There are actually people who deliberately taint candy and we have to protect our children from them. 

We don’t want our children to eat candy from strangers, but what about the advice and counsel they get from strangers?  Are we as determined and deliberate in our attempts to warn our children about the things strangers may tell them?  Listen to their advice but don’t eat their candy doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense does it?

Children need to learn how to be careful who they take candy from and they also need to be discerning in who they take advice from. 

The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. (Proverbs 14:15 ESV)

To paraphrase using our candy illustration - the simple eats candy no matter who gives it to him., but the prudent or wise checks it out first.   Sadly there are people, they may be well meaning, but people who will give your children advice which can harm them.   We need to teach our children how to think. 

In order to do this we need to teach them the Bible.  We need to give them the truth so they can see the errors so prevalent in the thinking of the world today.  Proverbs says in 1:10 if sinners entice you do not consent.  That means a child has to learn how to evaluate what they are being told.  They have to have a frame of reference.  That frame of reference needs to be the truth of the Word of God.  It is up to us a parents, not the school or church, but us as parents to give them this instruction.  There are some very deadly truths wrapped up in some very attractive and appealing packages specifically designed for kids.  Hollywood is a master at this.  The music they are listening to makes it even deadlier because music tends to weaken and deaden our ability to process the words we are listening to.  We listen to people sing things in their lyrics that if the music was turned off and they were just saying those words to us we would turn and walk away in disgust.  Satan is an angel of light and he knows how to package lies.  He will sometimes come disguised as a friend, using flattery and kindness to get your child to take a bite, but hidden beneath the surface is the poison of sin and bondage. 

So help your kids be as careful in choosing who they take advice from as they are in who they take candy from.  Be as concerned about what they put in their bodies as what they put in their heads and hearts. Help them to learn to give thought to their steps.  We do that by taking thought to our own steps as parents.  Where are you headed?  Where are you going to end up if you keep on going down the path you are currently on?  

The simple believes everything.  If that describes your child, they need to learn wisdom, they need to learn what this book will give them, they need learn to be prudent, wise, discerning.  They need to learn the fear of God.   They need to know Jesus Christ, walk with him and live for him.  He will guide their steps, he will watch over them and protect them.