2 Kings 6:4, “4 So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.”
To continue from where we left, we see Elisha going with his disciples, students into the field to work. They have a mission to expand their dwelling place. They know it will take hard work and we see them to put to work what they were learning from their seasoned leader Elisha. That he was a man of great condescension and compassion; he went with the sons of the prophets to the woods, when they desired his company. Let no man, especially no minister, think himself too great to stoop to do good, but be tender to all. Good parents, leaders lead by example, many learn by observing.
Vs. 5 “But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.”, as the work continued, one of the sons of the prophets reported that the head of the ax he borrowed had fallen into the water only to be left with the handle. His cry was for different reason which shows maturity in his part Elisha would have been proud of. 1. It grieved him to lose his ax, because he could do no more work and keep up with everyone, 2. It was a borrowed ax, his aim was to take good care of it and take it back to the owner, 3. There was no cover up in his part concerning the borrowed ax, 4. There was no shifting of blame to the owner by saying he did not secure the ax head strong on the handle. 5. He was poor, and not able to pay for it, which, being of an honest disposition, gave him distress
In teaching our young people hard work, we ought to teach them to be as careful of that which is borrowed as of that which is our own, that it receives no damage, because we must love our neighbor as ourselves and do as we would be done by. This is about being responsible, entrusted with something valuable and also taking responsibility when things are not right. Today, people want to find someone or something to blame for all the wrong and we see that passed down to our young people.
This also wasn’t just about losing another man’s property, it was also learning to honor the man whose property was borrowed. When we were growing up, we were taught at home and in school that elders were to be respected not only for what they have but who they are. Elders could send young people or tell them to do something, or tell them to stop doing something and you would not hear a young person say, “I will no listen to what you have to say because you are not my parent”, is that not common today? In our day we would do what an elder said as long as in our conscience we knew it was the right thing to do. Today, some parents defend their young people even when they know their young people are wrong, showing a young person that it’s ok to get away with wrong. Some are not taught to obey their elders. If it takes a family and the community to raise a child, I would expect the same respect the young people give their parents be given to their elders in the community, in schools, in work places etc.
Who is going to dictate how we raise our young people? Society?, In our lawless generation, it will take parents, leaders with God fearing values, having a history of how they were raised and if they value how they were raised, they would pass to their young people what they received. This will prepare them to be good husbands, good wives if they ever get married, teach them hard work, honor etc. We lay the foundation, we teach, we trust God for wisdom and grace to raise His young people. God holds us responsible how we raise them, ask Eli the priest and Samuel the prophet in the bible. Though they were great men, they did not pass what they learnt to their sons and God held them responsible. What will you do with the talents (young people) God has given you? Pass Down To Your Young People What Made You. Blessings Ev
He Has Magnified His Word 