Shepherding a Child's Heart

Rethinking Unbiblical Goals
If the goals in the last chapter are unworthy, let’s rethink our goals
in light of the chief end of man—to glorify God and enjoy him
forever. Bear in mind, in this discussion, that the issue here is not
whether these goals are lawful or beneficial for Christians to pursue.
The issue is whether they are adequate as ultimate goals.
Developing Special Skills
What is the problem with having your children involved in a broad
range of activities? Many parents who would never allow their
children to attend public school will send them to dance classes. They
will refuse to have them influenced by secular humanism in school,
but will expose them to unbiblical ideas of beauty in dance class.
When I ask parents why they put their children in these classes,
they explain that it has helped their child’s sense of self-worth. Are
there any passages that make the development of self-worth a
biblically mandated goal? Shouldn’t we be more concerned with an
accurate sense of self? Is it biblical to build self-worth on a child’s

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capacity to develop a physical skill? Are we not encouraging pride
that comes from the capacity to perform? Most coaches do not teach
the Little Leaguer who hits a home run to give thanks to God for the
timing and coordination necessary to perform such a complex feat.
Many of these activities teach your children to trust in themselves,
when the Scripture says that those who trust in themselves are fools
whose hearts turn from God. The self-love and self-trust our culture
proffers always turns the heart away from God.
What values do you teach by the sacrifices needed to practice each
day? Many families who always have time for team practice are
unable to organize family life around regular times of family Bible
reading and prayer. What values are taught? What values are taught
when the Lord’s Day worship plays second fiddle to baseball practice
or a swim meet? All this because children need to build their self-
esteem!
A biblical worldview dictates that you should teach your children
to exercise and care for their bodies as an expression of stewardship
for God’s gifts. Abilities should be developed because God has given
the stewardship of talents and special capacities. Skills that would
make your children more able to serve and open channels of ministry
to others should be encouraged.
Athletic activities can be a valuable way of providing family unity
and oneness. Rather than fracturing families by allowing each to go
his own way for fitness, such activities can serve to teach family
loyalty in sharing each other’s interests in games and play.
Strenuous activity is valid to keep the body in excellent health.
You must be concerned with strength and stamina for a life of service
to God. Activities that provide flexibility, strength and cardiovascular
health are necessary for usefulness in God’s kingdom.
Our family found that a 650-mile bicycle-camping trip provided
physical, mental, and spiritual challenge that was easily focused on
biblical goals. Our son, Tedd, quickly realized that love of family

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dictated a change in his riding technique. If the cycle tour was to be a
family affair, he could not keep a cadence that would put him too far
ahead of less-skilled riders. His desire to serve kept the sport from
becoming sport for sport’s sake.