My message today is on bringing up children. There are many good books on this subject in the secular world & in Christian bookstores, for which I thank God, but my message is from God’s word. Children are a gift from God (Psalms 127:3) & God has given us very clear instructions in His Word as to how to bring them up. As parents, we are not to provoke our children to anger (Ephesians 6:4) nor exasperate (continually nag) them. (Colossians 3: 21).
Neither are we to be indifferent, since a child “left to himself will bring shame” (Proverbs 29:15). I would like to share with you all five principles of raising up children.1. Pray
Job was a God-fearing man & got His attention. The Bible says in Job 1:5, that Job would “consecrate his children & offered burnt offerings for each of them”. Job prayed for each of his children & interceded on their behalf. The Bible says that we are to pray for “all people” (1 Timothy 2:1) and this includes our very own children!
We are to pray for our children right from conception, that they would have a normal growth all the way through from being an infant,toddler,child,teen,youth etc. We are to pray fervently at each stage of their lives.
2. TLC (Tender loving care)
The Bible encourages us to “love our children” (Titus 2:4). It may seem strange to some to receive such an advise! But it is so necessary! The devil tries to bring about a rift between parents & children and hence the Lord says that He will “turn the hearts of the parents to their children & vice-versa. (Malachi 4:6). We are to tenderly care for our children (I Thessalonians 2:7). We are to have a close bonding with our children & there should be warmth & emotional attachment in our relationship with them.
3. Provide
As we all know, it is our duty to provide for our family. The Bible says that he who does not provide for his family has denied the faith & is worse than an unbeliever. (I Timothy 5:8). We are responsible to save up for our children (2 Corinthians 12:14).
When they grow up, we can’t send them away empty-handed! In the book of wisdom it says that a good man will leave an inheritance even for his grandchildren! (Proverbs 13:22)
4. Discipline
The Bible exhorts us to bring up our children in the “discipline of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). We are to discipline, correct & train our children in the ways of the Lord. Paul says that we are to keep our children “under control” (I Timothy 3:4) & argues that if we can’t manage our own family well, how can we take care of His church? The Bible has examples of people who didn’t discipline their children & hence they went wayward. Eli the priest honoured his sons above God & didn’t rebuke them. (1 Samuel 2:23,29) He merely questioned them for their wrongdoings & gently spoke to them about it, instead of being forceful in disciplining them in the ways of the Lord. Thank God that here in India, we have full freedom to discipline our children, unlike some of our western counterparts!
5. Instruction
We are to bring up our children in the “instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). We are to “exhort, encourage & implore” (I Thessalonians 2: 11) our children. Thank God for Sunday school teachers & others who help our children in the teachings of the Lord, but as parents it is primarily our responsibility to teach them His ways. Along with having a formal prayer time with our children, we are to informally teach them of His ways even while we are talking with them while sitting or going out for walk. (Deuteronomy 6: 6,7). Moses’ mother did this diligently & hence even though Moses grew up in the palace, he knew that he was a Hebrew & not an Egyptian & he was concerned for God’s people. God chose Abraham so that he may command his children to keep the way of the Lord (Genesis 18: 19). We have to be assertive in order to be a successful father as Abraham.
We can be successful in other areas of our life such as work or business, but if we fail in our responsibility as parents, we have really failed. Let us be diligent to take up our God given responsibility & raise up our children according to His will.
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