By bro Lee Tian Seng
We know that the goal of raising children is to impart the teaching of God’s Word so that they will receive eternal life.
Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
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.
If the goal of raising godly children is important to us and our children, then we will want to know how to do it. We should have a plan and be committed to work on it. Why so?
Firstly, the challenge of raising godly children in this ungodly world is tougher than we think. Our children grow up with influences around them, which will lead them astray.
1 Corinthians 15:33 - Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
Satan is busy at work deceiving our children and drawing them away from the way of the Lord. He does so in giving our children friends who are not good examples and worldly. Our children will learn from their friends to tell lies, to drink alcoholic beverages, to take drugs, to cheat, and to use swear words. As parents, we need to watch out for such bad influences.
Secondly, our children will be tempted by the material things and pleasures in this world. Satan will tempt them to seek material things and fun, than to seek God. Our children will be distracted from following God because they want to have what their friends possess. It could be branded clothing, shoes, hair styles, body shape and size, and digital devices. There are also much that attracts us in recreation, sports and movies. Satan tempted our Lord with the attraction of physical things.
Matthew 4:8-10 - Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
Thirdly, our children will be deceived by the wisdom of this world. Satan tells them that worldly wisdom is desirable, not godly wisdom. The world respects people who are intellectuals and those who possess high educational qualifications. Even parents fall into this trap and encourage their children to put their studies before worshipping God. Worldly wisdom that promotes that God does not exist, or that there is no moral law, or that homosexuality is an alternative lifestyle, etc. goes against God’s teaching. Our children are exposed to these errors in their schools, in books they read, and in the internet.
1 Corinthians 1:19-20 - For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
We need to take up the armour of God and be ready to fight the spiritual battle against the forces of darkness for our sake, and for our children’s.
Ephesians 6:12-13 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.