By bro Lee Tian Seng
Developing an effective plan in raising godly children based on the Word of God is fundamental because only God knows best how children should be raised.
Ephesians 6:4 - And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
An effective plan should include how we are to teach our children the Word of God.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - 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.
There is a need for discipline to achieve this. We should also give priority to it. We need a plan to have daily bible study with our children, to talk to them about God and applying His teaching, and to attend worship and bible classes with them. We should emphasize to our children the importance of this education because it is for their salvation.
2 Timothy 3:15 - 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.
Besides teaching our children the Word of God, we need to discipline our children. Many new parents are unsure how to do it. Admittedly, it is not easy because not all children respond to discipline in the same way. They also have different personalities. Still, we can seek the advice of other Christian parents who have done well in raising godly children.
Proverbs 23:13-14 - 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.
Both parents must jointly develop the plan. We should not think that it is just the father’s job or just the mother’s job to bring up the children. God expects both father and mother to be responsible, since the Bible teaches that children are expected to obey and honour both parents.
Ephesians 6:1-2 - Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise.
Both parents should discuss and agree on the rules, principles and methods of bringing up their children. For example, parents should agree on when to use the cane to discipline their children, and how it should be administered. They should talk about it and understand what God wants them to do.
Parents should pray to God to help them carry out the plan. Nothing can be achieved without God’s help. They should ask God for wisdom in applying His Word in parenting.
James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
They should also pray for their children that they will obey the Lord’s commandments, just as David prayed for God to give his son Solomon a loyal heart to keep God’s commandments.
1 Chronicles 29:19 - And give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep Your commandments and Your testimonies and Your statutes, to do all these things, and to build the temple for which I have made provision.
Finally, parents must not neglect the task of raising godly children because God will make them account for their failure to do so. As God has blessed us with children to love and care for, we should be concerned about our duty of bringing them up in the way of the Lord. There is only one chance for us to teach and discipline our children, and that is when they are still young and teachable. Let us take this task with utmost seriousness, lest we live in regret for our failure to do so.