By bro Lee Tian Seng
We should provide for our children’s physical needs, educational needs, recreational needs, and prepare them for life. That is our responsibility as Christians.
1 Timothy 5:8 - But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
However, there are various ways of meeting these needs, and at different levels. For example, how big a house should we have? How much should we spend on sports? Or how many enrichment classes should our children enrol in? Some parents try very hard to meet these needs, even when they can barely afford them. Others are anxious when they see their neighbours and friends investing so much on their children to help them to be successful in the future. They put much emphasis on their children’s education so that their children will have good jobs that pay well, and be able to afford to live luxuriously. We need to ask ourselves what is more important for our children than these worldly goals and pursuits.
Luke 12:15 - And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
The Bible teaches that one who has worldly riches but do not have the favour of God is a fool.
Luke 12:19-21 - And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Therefore, we need to prioritize teaching our children the Bible, encouraging them to obey the Gospel, and helping them live as faithful Christians. There is nothing more valuable than the souls of our children.
Matthew 16:26 - For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Godly parents should emphasis one main goal, and that is to help our children go to heaven.
Parents need to read the Bible to their young children and bring them to worship and bible classes on Sunday. They should also discipline them using the teachings of the Bible so that they will develop good character.
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.
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.
When our children are in their teens, we should teach them the Gospel so that when they are ready, they will obey the Gospel and be saved. After that, parents should continue to teach and encourage their children to serve God and to develop godly character.
2 Peter 1:5-7 - But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
As the world will influence and draw our children away from God, we also need to help them to resist temptations and remain faithful.
Titus 2: 11-13 - For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
We need to teach, discipline, train and guide our children till they are able to stand firm in their faith. Many parents give up too early or expect their children to be able to grow in their faith by themselves. Parents should continue to live as faithful Christians so as to provide an example to their children, and be always ready to give godly advice and encouragement to their children.
Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.