Be careful when answering your children.
Children’s first impression of God will be their parents, apart from transformation.
God’s Word spoken to them with the wrong attitude will breed rebellion, not rewards. (Ephesians 6:4, TLB; James 1:26, ESV)
Questions for you:
What do your kids expect when they ask you for something?
How do you feel when you have to ask Pastor James for something?
What do you want your children, mate, friends, team members, to feel like when they ask you for something?
How does your child feel when you tell them no?
How does your mate feel when you disagree and you say no?
How do those under you feel when you say no?
How do you feel when Pastor James tells you no?
Do you feel that your children feel safe about asking you for what they want?
Do you feel they can be truthful about what they want and why? (Matthew 7:9-11, ESV)
Do you feel God wants to give you good things?
Do you ask God in a way that you feel He wants to give them to you?
Do you ask often? Why or why not?
What do you think good gifts or good things are?
Do these verses challenge you to want to ask more and give more to your children and those close to you?