Modern-day Advice to Parents from Psalm 1

May 17th, 2024

What do Psalm 1, church statistics about young adults, and the story of Abraham and Lot have in common? Find out in today’s blog, brought to you by none other than our president and co-founder, Carl Kerby.

I’m currently in a group Bible study where we’re working through the Bible, book by book, in a year. Recently, we were in the Book of Psalms, and I was reminded of something I’d heard a friend teach a long time ago. With all the craziness we see in the world now, it has a fresh meaning.

We read that a staggering 50% to 80% of those who grew up in Christian homes walk away from the faith by the age of 18. This is not just a statistic, but a significant issue that we, as parents, need to address. In a recent article by Lifeway, I read about why youth walked away and how many eventually came back.¹ Please allow me to show you one of their graphs.

Notice the middle stat: 39% of those who left the church between 19 and 22 now attend church “ONCE A MONTH OR LESS”! I’m not a genius, but that pretty much sounds like they’re not attending. So, how about we lump them in with the “DO NOT CURRENTLY ATTEND” and say that 68% still no longer attend church?

Now let’s read Psalm 1 and see if there’s a connection:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.

What my friend pointed out to me was the sequence; notice that.

First, we find that the person who leaves “walks” with the wicked. This is a stark reminder of the importance of the company our children keep. Adults may remember the old sayings, “You become like the company that you keep!” or the computer program quote, “Junk in, junk out!” The older we get, the truer we know those sayings to be.

Parents with young children, you may not be your “brother’s keeper,” but you are your “child’s keeper”! Your role in shaping their faith is crucial. May I humbly ask you to consider this question: WHO ARE THEY SPENDING TIME WITH? WHO ARE THEY “WALKING” WITH? You must be aware of this. The above verse points out that who they walk with is who they’ll eventually “stand” with.

This just makes sense. The time that we’re walking with someone is time that allows them to influence us. What starts as something straightforward can lead to something very destructive.

Once the ideas have infiltrated my thinking, not only am I “walking” with them, but I’ll stop and “stand” with them, which can then lead to me “sitting” with those who scoff.

Let me share an example from the Bible that I believe bears this out.

In Genesis 13, we read about Abram and Lot. Their flocks had grown to the point where there were issues between them, and the land couldn’t support both of them. In verses 8–9, we see Abram's wisdom.

Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.

The way that Lot responded is critical. Take a look at the following three verses:

Genesis 13:10–12
And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus, they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom.

Did you notice the phrase, “Lot lifted up his eyes”? When challenged with a vitally important decision that would have long-term consequences, Lot used his “physical” eyes, his own wisdom, instead of seeking what God would want for him. We all know what God tells us about ways that seem right to man. In the end, they lead to death (Proverbs 14:12)! This is one of those examples.

To bear that out, just a few years later, we see the result. Lot’s initial decision based on what he saw led him to “walk” with those in Sodom, leading to him “standing” with them. In just a few years, in Genesis 19, we see Lot “sitting” in the gate of Sodom. We know what happens next, and it’s not pretty.

The question is, “What do we do to avoid this happening?”

I think the answer is very simple: read on in Psalm 1:2!

[B]ut his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

When we put our focus in the right place, everything changes. We’ll be more aware of where we’re “walking” and hopefully adjust as necessary. Recognition is the first step to resolution. Make sure you’re not “walking” in places you shouldn’t. Put your focus on things that will last for eternity and not just temporal pleasures. It’s easy to say and sometimes hard to do, and I write this as a challenge to myself, not an accusation of you.

As we apply this reminder, I want to encourage you to join our RforH Prayer page if you’re on Facebook. Help us pray for others, and in turn, let us know how we can pray for you. Most importantly, though, walk with the Lord, meditate on His desires for your life, and . . . Stay Bold!

---Carl D. Kerby

P.S. Parents, we have one tool I believe will encourage you―our documentary, Within Our Reach! Join Holly Varnum and me as we share vitally important information to help parents reach their children. You can watch it here, free of charge: