Another aspect of being a parent is contained in 1 Timothy 3:1-5 with special emphasis on verse 4. “1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)”
This is the chapter that lays out the qualifications for a bishop, or in our terms pastor, to be ordained into the ministry. Notice verse 4. “…having his children in subjection with all gravity;”
It goes on in verse 5 to say, “For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?” So we see here how important it is for one who is seeking the high office of pastoring a church, that he rules his own house well, because if he cannot take care of his own house and have his own family under subjection, how can he take care of the house of God?
In Titus 2:1-4 “1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,”
Paul was giving instruction to his fellow laborer, Titus, to teach different groups. In verse 3 he told the aged women to be teachers of good things. Notice that verse 4 instructs young women, “to be sober, to love their husbands, and to love their children.” One of the most important duties of any parent is to love their children.
Now let’s explore some verses concerning correction or discipline of children. Proverbs 13:24 “24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” The conclusion can be drawn from this verse, that if children are not corrected, the parents are shunning them and not showing love toward them in the way God says they should.
Proverbs 19:18 “18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.”
The conclusion here can be that the time to start correcting children is when they are young, hence the first part of the verse “while there is hope”.
Many times in my life I’ve seen the evidence of this scripture. Parents have waited until their children are headstrong and then it is too late to begin correcting their children. You must teach children to be obedient when they are first old enough to understand what you are saying and that consequences of their actions are necessary.
The last part of the verse says, “let not thy soul spare for his crying”. Every child quickly learns how to manipulate their parents, if the parents are weak and allow themselves to be manipulated.
Ricky Wilborn
Fort Payne, AL
