God's Instruction Regarding Children (Cont'd.)

6. Give good gifts to your children; God wants to give good gifts to you and your children.

"If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:11). See also Luke 12:22-32.

7. Leave an heritage for your children.

Of more value than a material heritage is a godly heritage of a good example, godly values and principles, and pleasant memories.

"...For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children" (1 Corinthians 12:14).

8. Make sure you do not cause your child to stumble or fall into sin. God takes this very seriously.

"Whoso shall offend (cause to stumble or fall into sin) one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matthew 18:6).

We have seen it happen many times, when children would respond and want to serve the Lord, the parents hindered or forbid them. What will happen to such parents?

9. Do not provoke your children to do wrong things or to anger.

"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath" (Ephesians 6:4).

"Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged" (Colossians 3:21).

10. Bring your children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).

Can you explain what is meant by the admonition of the Lord?

11. Parents are to rule well their own house, having their children in subjection with all gravity (sincerity and dignity) (1 Timothy 3:4-5; Titus 1:6).

12. Parents are to guard and protect their children, not from physical dangers only, but from spiritual, intellectual, and moral dangers as well.

Can you name some of these and how you as parents can accomplish this?

13. Parents are to feed or nourish their children, not just with material food, but with the Word of God.

Make the Scriptures real spiritual food for them so that it may give them spiritual strength (Ephesians 6:4). It can be done by teaching, discipline, worship, prayer, reading of the Bible, "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" (Ephesians 5:19).

14. Older women are to teach the younger women to "love their husbands, to love their children."

Can you think of any other Bible instructions to parents?
Are these instructions too difficult?
Do they work?

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth"
(3 John 4).