In his 2013 book “Things That Matter,” political columnist and commentator Charles Krauthammer included an essay called “Life By Manual.”

“Every human activity is now the subject of the how-to industry. A visit to the local bookstore shows how far things have gone. Not just parenting and loving, but everything—eating and drinking, running and sunning, living itself—is a skill to be learned and mastered. There are books, videos �. The business succeeds because Americans have come to believe that only an expert can teach them the correct way to walk, or bend their knees or think well of themselves.”

Krauthammer is not belittling the importance of learning from others. He does seem, however, to be poking gentle fun at the idea that we are helpless, and that our own instincts and common sense cannot be trusted. Nowhere is this more evident that when it comes to parenting. Advice comes to us from everywhere– books, TV, radio, school, conversations with friends � a wide variety of “experts.”

Realizing that I, too, run the risk of being one of those voices, I would suggest the following:

In the midst of all the advice coming at you about how to help your kids succeed in school, sports, arts, in just about every area of life, don’t neglect their spiritual development. Want them to be as strong and accomplished spiritually as you do academically, athletically, socially � and understand that at the end of the day their spiritual growth is more up to you as their parent than to their church.

3 John 4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth.” Make this your prayer and your goal for your kids.

Trust yourself and instincts God gave you.

God never gives us a responsibility without giving us what we need to fulfill it. That includes the job God has given us to parent. Listen, read, talk, engage ideas all you want � but sift and sort as you do. Above all, make sure the approach you take is consistent with what the Bible teaches.