Godly Parents

     It seems many parents are not aware of the responsibility they have as fathers and mothers.  It may be, you have never considered your obligations to your children.  The Bible gives sufficient instruction in the area of parenthood.  Let’s notice some things involved in being a godly parent.

Setting A Good Example

The Bible sets forth the necessity of being a good example.  Paul said:  “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12).  This includes being a good example in front of the kids.  Are you being a good example in communication (Eph. 4:29)?  Are you setting a good example of praying so that your children can see the importance of such (Phil. 4:6; 1 Th. 5:17)?  How about your example of being a devoted student of the Bible as you study daily (Ps. 1:1,2; 2 Tim. 2:15)?  Are you doing that?  What example are you setting for your children?  They are watching!

Teaching Your Children

Not only are you commanded to learn the Scriptures for yourself, you must teach your children.  Look at Paul’s instruction for fathers:  “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:  but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).  Father’s are you listening?  God has always expected parents to teach their children.  Dt. 6:7 reads:  “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”  Timothy was taught by his mother and it is implied that his grandmother had a part in this as well (2 Tim. 1: 5; 3:15).  Parents, if you are not teaching your children the right ways of the Lord, you are failing miserably as a parent and doing your children a grave disservice. 

Having Priorities In Order

Children need to know what is important in life.  God needs to be above all things (Mt. 6:33).  The words of Joshua need to be declared by every Father as he said:  “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15).  Children need to know what is important in the home.  They need to know that godly living will be expected and practiced in the home.  They need to know when the Lord’s Day comes the family will be assembling with the saints to worship God (Jn. 4:24; Heb. 10:25).  Don’t just send them!  If your priorities are not in order, why not organize them today?

Disciplining Your Children

That a lack of discipline in the home has contributed to the problems of society and our youth today, there is no doubt.  Too many children go undisciplined in the home.  Many parents proclaim:  “I love my child to much to spank them.”  No, no, mom and dad.  If you love your child as your should do not withhold correction.  Listen to the wise man:  “Withhold not correction from the child:  for if your beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.  Thou shald beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell” (Prov. 23:13,14).  The word beatest simply means to strike.  It is better to spank a child that he may know what is right than for him to be unruly.  Again, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Prov. 22:15).

Loving Your Children

Perhaps some do not understand the worth of children.  Children are truly a blessing to husbands and wives.  David declared:  “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:  and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Ps. 127:3).  In Titus 2:3-5 women are given some inspired instruction.  Among those listed is that they love their children.  Parents if you love your children do not neglect their spiritual training.  Love them enough to teach them about the joys of Heaven and the pains of hell.  Love them enough to teach them the truth so they can believe and obey that heaven can be their home.

Donnie Oliver