GOOD CHARACTER and LEANING ON THE LORD

Genesis 24:12,18

“O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham.

“Yes, my Lord,” she answered, “have a drink.” And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink.

We learn two major lessons from Abraham's quest for a wife for Isaac.

Firstly, we see good character from Rebecca. The courteous treatment of strangers which ran down the family of Terah. We saw it in Abraham, in Lot and now in Rebecca from the house of Nahor.

It is every parent's duty to bring up their children in the way of the Lord. I remember having an interaction with a supposed cleric from a particular religion when I was on an official assignment some years ago. The cleric's stand was that children were the duty of God to bring up, that once a child is born, it is God's will and he has the duty to bring them up.

I disagreed insisting that no one is forced to bring children into the world, however, when you do, you are accountable to God for bringing up the child in the right way. Definitely the provision for the child comes from the Lord but the weaning and training is the duty of the parents.

This popular scripture says:

Proverbs 22:6

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Listen parents, before you begin to complain of that child/children of yours as they grow older, check, have you done your part as a good parent? Have you brought them up in the way of the Lord?

Secondary, we see the servant from Abraham's household showing trust in the Lord

Abraham did a good job of making sure even his servants knew the Lord God:

Genesis 24:12,14-15a

“O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham.

This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.”

Before he had finished praying, 

How wonderful it is to have subordinates, employees and wards who know how to pray. What a blessing they are.

This servant must have been with Abraham through all his exploits and knew what it was to trust in the Lord.

An Igbo adage says: 

"it is when a son is being cautioned that a servant learns wisdom"

Proverbs 17:2

A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.

Proverbs 29:17-18

Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. 

But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

As I always say, we build our tomorrow by the actions we take today.

What have you built for tomorrow?

What are you building now?

Do not leave the spiritual, moral and character building of your children to chase vain things. Give them that which money cannot buy. So that when they grow up they will have treasures greater than money. See, money will serve them, they will not serve money. Their trust in the Lord will give them victory that no power can withstand.

Pray for, and with them.

Help us Good Lord.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher