Page 27 - January 2025 - Truth & Tidings

We cannot save our families, but we can the order of the wording), it would have
be an influence on them and their lives. meant a difficult life for Eunice. It would
Character traits are frequently “caught” mean obeying the Word of God and, at
from generation to generation. Those times, paying a price for it. It would mean
raised in homes marked by hospitality a life of confidence in God.
are often marked by the same when they
establish their own homes. Those whose Their Faith and Its Direction
families were gospel-minded are usually I do not think it would be fair to this
marked in their later years by the same mother and daughter to limit the fruit of
spirit. We are walking before our families their faith to Timothy. I have no doubt
and establishing “norms” for them, quali- that the fruit of their faith moved out and
ties that mark the Christian life. touched others for spiritual good. A life
One of the ways in which this godly of faith cannot help but bring blessings
mother and grandmother communicated to others. But since we cannot go beyond
the value of faith to Timothy is suggested what Scripture has revealed, we can only
later in Paul’s letter. In chapter 3:15, he focus on Timothy. What this mother and
mentions that Timothy had, from infancy, grandmother were able to bring about was
known the sacred Scriptures. While some a man for God to use. And God did use
of this may have been taught by others, it this man! When we think of his ministry
is certain that the home was the primary to local assemblies such as Corinth, Thes-
place where this instruction was given. salonica, Philippi or Ephesus, it is evident
Parents must never relegate the biblical that Timothy’s life was a testimony to the
instruction of their children to Sunday credit of his family.
school teachers. Societal pressures have made women
It should be noted that in the case of think that being a homemaker and rais-
Timothy, we are introduced first to a ing a family constitute a waste of natural
grandmother, Lois, who had a positive talents. Careers are now the expectation
influence on a grandson. Grandparents, of many women. Childbearing and family
though we are given to indulging our life are delayed, postponed or cancelled.
grandchildren, can have a consider- While there are women whose circum-
able influence on their lives. Naomi stances require that they work, and a few
was marked by nurturing Obed. Jacob who can manage a career and a family, the
claimed Manasseh and Ephraim for God. primary responsibility of every mother is
Committed to our care is the example we to raise her family for the Lord. To do so
set for our grandchildren, an example of will demand all the intelligence, creativity,
years of consistent, faithful living. How critical thinking skills, and insight that it
important that Paul could point Timothy is possible to display. And while a career
to a grandmother as someone who lived in the corporate world may command a
a life of faith! six-figure salary, raising a Timothy will
We are not told in what way Paul recog- yield a much greater eternal value. More
nised that Lois and Eunice were marked far-reaching in its outcomes than a career
by faith. If Eunice’s husband, a Greek (Act as a corporate CEO could ever be is faith
16:1), was not a believer (as suggested by that pleases God.

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