Teach Your Children The Word Of God

Children are blessed in the Lord’s eyes. Jesus said, “Allow little children come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven” Lk 18:16 Such a responsibility is given to parents to train their children in the Lord and to teach them the ways of God. Here are three ways we are to rear our children in the Lord.

Train Up A Child

Solomon wrote that parents are to “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”  Prov 22:6 Parents are to teach their children continually. He gave memorable advice to any child when he said, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw near, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them;” Eccl 12:1 If we learn the scriptures when our brains are a sponge, we shall reap oceans of knowledge and wisdom at a tender age and when we become old, we shall not depart from it. Moses wrote, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deut 6:5-7 If Children are being taught the ways of the Lord from a very young age they will grow up even as did a young Timothy who saw the unfeigned faith of his mother and grandmother. 2 Tim 1:5 Timothy was a son to Paul in the faith and was nurtured by him even as would a parent to a child. 1 Tim 1:2 Paul said, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim 3:14,15

Paul taught that young men be taught to be, “Sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,  sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you” Titus 2:6-8 Young women were to be taught to, “To love their husbands, to love their children,  to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. “ Titus 2:4-5

In many ways I was trained in the Word of God from a child. I was so young that I fell asleep on bibles and was weaned on the sincere milk of the Word. I lead singing at the age of 3 and was preaching by the time I was 12 (the same age I was baptized into the body of Christ). As did Samuel, I devoted my entire life to God’s Word and matured above above my own peers. I was not indoctrinated into the doctrines of men, but was taught to abide by the doctrine of Christ and his apostles. Acts 2:41 f; 2 Jn 9 I was taught never to take man’s opinions or assumptions over the commandments of God’s Word. If what I teach and preach today is different than what you believe, it is because I don’t read the commentaries and opinions of men, but rather I base all that I teach on the commentary and opinions of the scriptures. I have learned to discount the doctrines of men and count them but dung that I may win Christ. Philip 3:8 This is how all children should be trained today. We are not to teach our children to believe as we do, but rather to believe what Christ and his inspired apostles believed and taught. As Paul said to Timothy so must we say to our own children, “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Tim 2:1,2

Correct A Child

Today’s society is a perfect example of how not to rear your children. Foolish renown men and women who reject the notion that God knows best when it comes to your children, have mislead several generations down a path of chaos. No wonder little children are carrying guns to schools and killing innocent people, for their parents are not correcting them as the bible instructs parents to do. Solomon wrote, Prov 22:6 “The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings  shame to his mother.” Prov 29:15 “Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell.” Prov 23:13-14

No wonder why the schools and the penal institutions are left to correct the children of this generation. It is because there is no discipline at home. When children are being reared by homosexuals and lesbians, adulterers and fornicators, is it any wonder why biblical doctrine on how to rear children is not present in their lives?

Encourage A Child

All godly parents are to encourage their children in the way of the Lord. We are to encourage them to read, learn, and absorb God’s Word from morning till night. We are to reward them when they do good in the Lord, and show them the right paths in a positive manner. Though fathers and mothers are to correct their children, they are not to discourage them for their good behavior. Fathers are not to provoke their children to anger, but rather bring them up in the admonition of the Lord. Eph 6:4 As Paul encouraged a young Timothy to read, preaching and teaching of God’s Word. 1 Tim 4:13 He was taught to be a good example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. 1 Tim 4:12 Encourage your children in the way of the Lord and discourage them in the ways of the world. And when we do, then our children will be even as the psalmist David who wrote, “I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts.” Ps 119:99-100 If the torch we pass to the next generation is going to worldliness and ungodliness, then truly the wrath of God will be upon our children and His judgment upon us. Let us encourage our children in the ways of the Lord and when they are old, they will not turn from them.

John wrote such encouraging word to our youth when he said, “I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.”1 John 2:13,14 The greatest responsibility parents have is to instruct their children in the ways of righteousness. Neglect not that duty!  Let us encourage our children in such a way that the last words they will hear from our heavenly Father is, “Well done, you good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of the lord.” Matt 25:21