"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is His reward." (Psalm 127:3). Indeed, children are an heritage of the Lord. We should consider them blessings, not burdens. To those who have no regard for God, this may not mean much. To Christians, it ought to mean a great deal. It ought to quicken our interest with regard to showing true love and concern for those whom God has placed in our care. It ought to stir our interest in our God-given responsibilities.
A home is not in order, in God's sight, until both parents and children realize their duties and perform them. Certain obligations are incumbent on each if we are to make our homes what God would have them to be. Unless we who are parents exhibit real Christianity in our homes, we are in the process of rearing our children in an atmosphere of insincerity and shame. Nothing is more detrimental to future stability than a pretentious religion, void of solid conviction and loyal devotion to God.
It is important that we train and teach our children. The apostle Paul clearly set forth the father's task, as it pertains to teaching the children, when he said, "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4)
In Proverbs 22:6, we can see the emphasis placed on train and teach. "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Also, in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, we read: "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou riseth up." We simply cannot afford the dubious luxury of sleeping on the job of teaching and training our children.
The majority of today's parents provide lavishly for their children's material needs, but they fail woefully at training them spiritually. Many children are starving spiritually. They are being deprived of the spiritual training their Creator wants them to have. This is the gravest sort of failure; for though the child may be successful in this life, if he loses his soul, he has lost everything (Matthew 16:26). We see then that, in this regard, parental responsibility is awesome. All parents will answer to God for how well they fulfilled this responsibility.
To a child, nothing is so faith-building as the opportunity to view daily the dedication of parents who are in love with God and His word. Parents need to know the Lord and the way of salvation. Just knowing book, chapter, and verse is not enough. We must know the Lord. Paul said, "I know whom I have believed" (1 Timothy 1:12). Parents who claim to be Christians should constantly show that Jesus is present in their lives and manifest joy in serving Him. Children can easily see through the transparent veneer of pseudo-spirituality.
Parents must set the proper example in the home. In the home, children should see a place where respect and understanding prevail (Ephesians 5:22-33). The home should not be a place of fussing, bickering, and contention. Among the many causes of insecurity, the most frequently encountered causes are family quarreling and marital discord. As hard as parents may try, they cannot long keep such activities hidden from their perceptive children. The home should be the child's emotional rock (Deuteronomy 33:27), and the parents should actively supply the security that their children so desperately need.
The home should be a place where the Bible is studied, and prayers are offered to God (2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). We should take the time, and have enough interest, to make these things integral parts of our family life. We need to openly, honestly, and casually talk about God and his will. Allow the Bible to address itself to family situations. And above all, exemplify its teachings. "Sunday Christians" do not long fool children. The fact that a family is "active in the church" is not enough. Many who have thought that such was sufficient now wring their hands and wonder what went wrong. Studying and applying the Bible will produce godliness, holiness, love, courage, industry, self-control, prudence, sympathy, obedience, subordination of our will to the Lord's will, and other similar virtues and requirements.
In our homes, our children should witness high moral standards (Titus 2:1-8; 11-12). The writer of the Proverbs tells us emphatically that the house of the righteous shall stand, but the house of the wicked shall be overthrown. (Proverbs 12:7; 14:11) Our children must be taught not to excuse sin (Proverbs 14:9).
We must set proper examples as members of the Lord's church. First and foremost, we do this by obeying the gospel, becoming Christians, and serving God faithfully. Unfortunately, some have taught their children that the church is not very important. They do this in different ways. If parents neglect their attendance, give grudgingly, and complain unceasingly, the children will decide that Christianity is not for them. In contrast, when parents do everything possible to be at all the services, and when they cheerfully carry their part of the load, by their positive attitudes, they teach their children.
We are responsible for teaching our children the truth so that the generations to come will have opportunity to know and obey God's will. We not only have responsibilities to the present, but also to the future. "That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born: who shall arise and declare them to their children; That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments." {Psalms 78:6,7} May God help us to be faithful to our trust.