Deuteronomy 6:1-7, “1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: 2 That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: 5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
In the scripture above, Moses exhorted the people of Israel to hear God and keep his commandments. He told them if they do this, it shall be well with them. God wanted the parents to teach the children about him and his ways and how they should love him with all their heart, soul, and might, and put him first in their lives.
Sadly, today, many children are not being taught by their parents about God and his marvelous love and works. This is truly a disservice to the children.
Another thing parents are commanded by God to do is train their children.
Proverbs 22:6, “6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This does not mean that the child will never do wrong. Myself and everyone I know has strayed at one time or another. But I find myself more and more now, going back to the things my parents trained me in the way that I should live my life.
Next is to provide for your children.
2 Corinthians 12:14, “14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.”
While Paul was talking to believers and most of them adults, he compared it to children because they had been converted under his preaching and he show at the end of the verse that it is not the responsibility of children (when they are still a child) to take care of the parents, but the parents are to take care of the children.
Ricky Wilborn
Fort Payne, AL
