Saying that our society faces grave problems is stating the obvious. Within the past few weeks, we have all heard about the trial in Miami of the 14-year-old boy who shot his teacher. Murder, carjacking, rape, and drug trafficking are standard fare on television and in the newspaper. The only thing that still shocks us is that each perpetrator is even younger than the last. The volume of cases against youthful offenders inundates our juvenile court system. As these youthful offenders develop into older offenders, there will probably be more and bigger problems.

It is no coincidence that an alarming breakup of the family is happening at the same time the rest of society seems to be in chaos. Whether it is because parents have abdicated their rightful duties to teach proper values and behavior, or because less-desirable people have usurped those duties, the fact remains that parents of many of today's children are not instilling in them a sense of right and wrong.

To cure this problem, parents must take the initiative. They must teach their children and instill within them the proper moral values. They must also fight against efforts by others to change those values to the hedonistic and humanistic values in the world around us.

The Bible shows how parents can instill the proper moral values within their children. The process begins with teaching our children about God's will as stated within His word. We don't start when the child reaches age 18, or 12, or even 6. We start when he/she is a baby.

The scriptures record a pair of great Mother's Day examples. Paul commended Timothy's mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, for their exemplary faith (2 Timothy 1:5). A notable factor in their success is seen in the description of their teaching efforts. When did they start? The Bible tells us:

"And that from a babe you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:15)

The word "babe" used to define Timothy's age is the same word used to describe Jesus while He was in the manger (Luke 2:12,16) and John while he was in Elizabeth's womb (Luke 1:41,44). We make a great mistake if we put off teaching our children until a point when we think they may understand everything. By that time, it is too late to do much of the teaching we should have already done. In teaching their children, mothers and fathers alike would do well to follow the good example left by Lois and Eunice. It is greatly needed in our time.

Notice the following instructions regarding the parents' responsibility to teach and train their children in the righteous path of truth found in God's word:

Deuteronomy 4:8-9 - "And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day? Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren..."

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart; you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."

Ephesians 6:4 - "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."

Proverbs 22:6 - "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

We must all see the seriousness of training and teaching our children Godly principles, which will give them proper values. After all, our children are "an heritage of the Lord" (Psalm 127:3); and in the Judgment, we will answer to God for our handling of them. Let us make every effort to teach them, as Abraham taught his children long ago. God commended him as follows:

"For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him." (Genesis 18:19)

Parents, let us not, by leaving it to others, shirk our duty to instill values in our children. If we do shirk this duty, God will hold us responsible. While it is true that some mothers must work outside the home while children are still very young, it is also undeniable that much of the practice stems more from desire than necessity. The result is that many children learn their values from unbelievers who are often better known to them than their own parents. No other person, and no amount of material possessions, can replace the value of mothers and fathers who spend both quality and quantity time with their children.

Over the years, it has become increasingly clear to me that parents will end up spending about the same amount of time with their children -- one way or another. They can spend that time from the beginning in showing proper love, care, and concern; and by teaching them needed values. Else, they will spend the time in remedial efforts to reach the unguided and undisciplined child after he or she is in trouble. The first expenditure of time is usually effective. The second rarely is.

Our schools, and the rest of our society, will function much better if we who are parents take seriously our responsibility to provide our children with a proper moral basis for action. More importantly, as we teach our children, we help to shape the church of the future. If we teach them well, God will use them to His glory in spreading the truth. If we fail to teach them, their souls and our souls are in jeopardy, and due to their lack of preparation, the cause of Christ will suffer. We can instill the proper basic values only by studying the Bible with them repeatedly, consistently, and diligently. Let us be sure we are doing what God expects of us--laying a proper foundation of truth in our children's hearts.