How tragic it is that many choose to bring children into this world, those who are “an heritage of the Lord,” and then abandon or neglected them!
Concerning the importance of being like Christ, Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Whereas there are many areas of concern with respect to imitating the Lord, parenting is one of the most important. We know that our Lord did not have a wife and children, but we also know that He did direct the conduct of husbands and wives and children. He was well qualified to make these comments on the conduct of husbands, wives, and children because He is the Maker of all. Let us take a few minutes to notice some of the instructions left by the only perfect man this world has ever known concerning our duties as parents.
Parenting is one thing in life that is optional is almost every case. When a male and female decide to engage in sexual intercourse they run the risk of conception. This is true of both married and non-married couples. Seeing then the voluntary nature of the role of “parent,” it behooves all parents to see to it that they rear their children in the proper way. The Psalmist wrote, “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Ps. 127:3). How tragic it is that many choose to bring children into this world, those who are “an heritage of the Lord,” and then abandon or neglect them!
We know that parents are to provide for the physical needs of children, for Paul wrote, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Tim. 5:8). But as well as hiving responsibility of providing food and shelter, parents are charged with leading their children is such a way as to guide them through life and into heaven, for Paul again wrote, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Many times parents leave the leading up to the ones who should be following. We no longer have father knows best. We have the father looking like is knows nothing and the mother is not far behind. The children are made to look like they know it all and have all the knowledge that experience has to offer. This is not the biblical example that God wants. Also many times parents simply leave their children to guide themselves through life. Both of these are demonstrations of negligence.
Parents have been charged with the responsibility of administering discipline to their children. Paul argued about this, using the proper relationship between children and parents to demonstrate the proper relationship between God and his children: “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:7-11). Though it may not be easy, the parents will be held responsible for their efforts (or lack thereof) with respect to disciplining those who are in their charge. It is not better to restrict the privileges of (or even spank the bottom of) those we love today in the hopes that they will have a better tomorrow? May God give us Christ-like parents!
Love, Keith
