If I asked you what one thing probably gets kids into trouble more often than anything else, I’m betting your answer would be “peer pressure.” How many kids from good Christian homes have gotten on the wrong track because of peer pressure? Matthew 7:13-14 says: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Dads (and Moms), if you can teach your kids not to follow the crowd, you will be doing them a great service. But the question is, “How?” I’m certainly not an expert by any measure, but with God’s help I tried to come up some relevant Scriptures and common sense approaches  that we may not always take time to think about.

One of the most basic things you can teach your kids is the importance of the kind of friends they choose. Proverbs 13:20 say, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Your kids can be friendly to lots of kids, but the close friends they hang out with should be the kind of kids that are good examples to them. Do they cut classes or take their studies seriously? Are they disrespectful or polite? Do they break their promises or keep their word? Are they honest, or do they tell “little white lies” whenever it’s more convenient? Do they do dare-devil stunts or act responsibly? Do they have permissive relationships with the opposite six, or do they follow boundaries? Do they drink or take drugs, or have they learned they don’t need it to have fun? One of the best ways to provide opportunity for your kids to make positive friendships is to be involved in a strong, Bible-believing church that has ministries for children and youth, but that is not a guarantee. You still need to remind them to choose their friends wisely.

Another important way to encourage your kids to stay on the narrow road is to help them realize that what they feed into their minds will affect them. Roman 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Teaching kids the importance of using the Bible as their guidebook for life is crucial, but in today’s world that might involve some “apologetics” of the Christian faith. They might need to be taught the fallacies of Evolution and that our faith is reasonable. They might need to be taught why it makes sense that Jesus is the only way to salvation. Not conforming to “the pattern of this world” involves being careful not to allow entertainment that goes against God’s ways.  The lifestyles portrayed in many movies, books, and TV shows that go completely opposite to God’s ways can’t help but influence your kids over time and help them go down “the road that leads to destruction.” When they are exposed to something that could have a negative impact, you can use it as an opportunity for discussion.

A third way to help your kids stay on the road that leads to life is to teach them that behavior has consequences. Discipline for bad behavior can help to instill that in their minds. Galatians 6:8 tells us, “Whoever sows [seeds] to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap [a crop of] destruction; whoever sows [seeds] to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap [a crop of] eternal life.” This brings up the fact that striving to be on the road to life on your own won’t work. You first have to have a relationship with God by believing in Jesus and receiving God’s forgiveness. (See John 3:16.) Then the Holy Spirit will dwell in you and help guide you along the road to the eternal life referred to in Matthew 7:14, quoted at the beginning of this article.

The Bible does teach that sin sometimes brings temporary pleasure, but the permanent results are not good. Hebrews 11:25 tells us that Moses “chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.”  Genesis 25:29-34 gives an account of someone who chose immediate gratification over long-term benefits. Esau traded his right to a double portion of the inheritance from his father for some stew and bread because he was very hungry at the moment.

And II Samuel 11 tells the sad story of King David having sexual activity with the beautiful wife of one of his soldiers and then trying to fix the situation by making sure her husband was killed in battle. That ended with the son born to David and Bathsheba dying.

One of today’s dangerous traps to get kids involved in temporary pleasures that have bad consequences is the internet. It’s easy for kids to get caught up in the “everybody’s doing it” mentality, but overuse and misuse can have damaging effects. And there are lots of opportunities to quickly get hooked on pornography—not just for boys. There’s also the danger of predators. A website called enough.org has information, statistics, and resources to help parents understand the perils of the internet and take action. Another fleeting pleasure that peers may put pressure on kids to get involved in is drugs. They may try to make them feel like they’re a “square” if they don’t try it out. (“Square” may not be a word kids would use today. Teen slang is evolving faster than ever, thanks to texting. If you need help interpreting your teen’s language, you can enter “teen slang dictionary” or “texting slang” in your search engine.) A recent news report warned that sudden changes in friendships or a drop in grades could signal drug involvement.

Your children may not believe that you really feel it’s important to stay on the “narrow road” unless they see you living it out yourself. Do your kids see you reading the Bible and praying and spending time with other Christians? Do they see you turning the channel when something on TV is inappropriate and choosing movies that are in line with pleasing  God? Do they see you using your computerized devices in responsible ways? Do they see you spending your time and money wisely?

Following God’s ways won’t always get your kids on the “most popular” list. Jesus told His disciples in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated me first.” People who follow God’s ways can be uncomfortable reminders to those who are rebelling against God. It isn’t always fun putting  God’s ways above popularity, but the eternal dividends are great.

Below is a video of a song with a straightforward statement. Your children will have made a very wise choice in favor of eternal life if they decide to make this statement.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM  Used by permission of Zondervan.  All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com  The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United State Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.TM

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