Train Your Teenager to Serve Jehovah

LOVE YOUR TEENAGER

Jesus was a loving and loyal friend. (Read John 15:15.) In Bible times, a master did not normally share his private thoughts and feelings with his slaves. However, Jesus proved to be both master and friend to his faithful apostles. He spent time with them, shared his feelings with them, and carefully listened when they poured out their hearts to him.  (Mark 6:30-32) Such loving communication created  a warm bond between Jesus and his apostles and prepared them for future responsibilities in God's service. 

While we as parents can't be our children's peers," says Michael, a father of two,  "we can be their friends."  Friends spend time together. Prayerfully consider whether you can adjust your secular work or other pursuits to spend more time with your children.  Friends also share common interests. Therefore,  make an effort to enjoy things that your teenager enjoys-his favorite music, films, or sports. Ilaria, who lives in Italy, says: "My parents took an interest in the music I listened to. In fact, my dad became my best friend, and I felt  free to talk to him about even delicate matters."  When you are a friend to your teenage children and help them to enjoy "close friendship with Jehovah," You do not relinquish your authority as a parent.  (Psalm 25:14)  (Note: Always be a parent first and foremost.) On the contrary, you show that you love and respect them, and you become more approachable. In turn, they are more likely to share their concerns with you.  

Jesus wanted his beloved disciples and friends to experience the joy that comes from a busy life in Jehovah's service.  Therefore, he desired that they zealously participate in spiritual activities.  Indeed, Jesus wanted them to be ardent disciple-makers!  and he  lovingly assured his disciples that he would help them to succeed. -Matthew 28:19, 20. 

You want your teenage children to remain spiritually healthy. And God wants you to bring your children up  "in the discipline and admonition of Jehovah." (Ephesians 6:4) So use your God-given responsibility to establish and maintain a spiritual routine.  To illustrate:  You insist that your children be educated because their education  is important and you hope to instill in them a love for learning. Loving parents likewise insist that  their children benefit from  "admonition of Jehovah" At congregation  meetings and through other spiritual programs. Because divine education is vital, you try to instill in your children love for spiritual things and appreciation for wisdom.  (Proverbs 24:14)  As Jesus helped his disciples, you seek to help your teenage children to succeed in the ministry by developing in them a love of teaching God's Word and by helping them stick to a good field service routine.

How can a consistent spiritual routine help teenagers? Erin, who lives in South Africa, admits:  "We children often whined and complained about Bible study, meetings, and field service.  Sometimes, we  deliberately disrupted our family study to try to get out of it.  But our parents didn't given in."  She adds:  "That training helped me to develop perseverance. If my spiritual routine gets disrupted now, I have a longing to return to it as quickly as possible.   I don't think I would have developed that longing had our parents not been firm in maintaining a spiritual routine. Had they given in, I am quite sure i would now find it much easier to miss meetings or other spiritual activities."

Next time:  Train Your Teenager to Serve Jehovah - TEACH HUMILITY BY YOUR EXAMPLE

From The Watchtower magazine