1 Samuel 1: 20-28

Kunle Olabode

Raising Godly children in today's world is increasingly becoming difficult as moral decadence is also increasingly eating up moral values in our society. Whether we would like to admit it or not, Satan is attacking the very fabric of family values through the machinery of government, media and many other facets of our society. Day in day out, our children are being bombarded with lies dressed up like the truth. But the word of God remains the same as to how we should bring up our children so they can be useful for themselves, for us as parents and the society at large.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

The Bible tells us there is a way a child should go, that is, there is a way a child should be trained and when that child is old, he will not depart from that way he has been trained.

We need to recognise that children are gifts from God and every parent or guardian must provide for them according to the word of God. A lot of the problems we have in our society today could have been avoided if parents had taken their rightful place in the lives of their children by teaching and training them in the way of the Lord. Here are some of the things God expects from us as parents.

• We must teach our children
  The Lord wants us to be continually teaching our children. Deuteronomy 11:18-21 tells us: "Keep these (God's) commandments carefully in mind. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting at home, when you are out walking, at bedtime, and before breakfast! Write them upon the doors of your house, and upon your gates, so as long as there is sky above the earth you and your children will enjoy the good life awaiting you in the land the Lord has promised you." We should always be looking for ways we can incorporate a godly lesson into our children's lives. This will help them in their day to day life. Deut. 6:6-7; Ex. 10:2; Ex. 12:26-27; Ex. 13:14-15; Deut. 4:9; Deut. 6:20-21; Deut. 11:19; Pro. 1:8; Isa. 38:19, Joel 1:3
• We must train our children
  There is a purpose for every child God entrusts into our care as parents, and so as parents we must train them to fit into that purpose for which God has given them to us. Training involves not only teaching, but also practicing what is taught until it becomes part of life. In the process of training, there is a tendency of getting it wrong; and this therefore calls for correction. If children do not obey, they must be corrected. It is part of the training process so they will learn to do right. The Bible teaches that this should be done by using a rod of correction or discipline. Proverbs 22:6; Proverbs 22:15; Proverbs 23:13-14 Proverbs 19:18; Proverbs 29:15.
• We must provide for our children
  Children have needs. They need love, affection, discipline and guidance. Parents and guardians have a responsibility to meet the needs of their children and wards. When the needs of children are not met, it leads to problems in development and growth and their ability to fit into the society. Parents must meet the needs of their children in order to raise Godly children. Matthew 7:9-11; 1 Samuel 2:19, Proverbs 31:15 & 21; 2 Corinthians 12:14.
• We must love our children
  The greatest gift we can give to our children is to love them; children need to know that they are loved unconditionally just as God loves us unconditionally. Many children fear they will be "kicked out" or abandoned if they do not behave in ways that please their parents. Children need to know that their parents love them, even when as parents we do not approve of some of their behaviours. Above all, as parents we need to constantly pray for our children. Titus 2:4; Genesis 37:3; 44:20, 29-31; Luke 15:20.

Conclusion

Some parents focus on meeting only some aspects of the needs of their children. It is important to try to meet all the needs of our children as best as possible, both physical and spiritual needs. The result of failing to meet the needs of our children can have grave consequences on the family and society at large. There is ample evidence in the world today that confirms that many children have needs that have not been met by their parents and guardians. It is even more tragic that this is a problem among Christians. When we meet the needs of our children, we witness to the world.