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10 Things You Need To Teach Your Children
10 THINGS YOU NEED TO TEACH YOUR CHILDREN
Both mother and father are “joint heirs of the grace of life” (1 Pet. 3:7). They share the great responsibility of rearing children to the glory of God. However, as the head of the home, fathers are charged with leading the family: “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Literally, “nourish them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” There are three words in this passage that need to be understood: (1) nurture, (2) chastening, and (3) admonition.
· Nurture literally means “to nourish.” It has to do with putting into the mind of the child that which builds up. Just as food nourishes the body, instruction from God’s word nourishes the soul of the child.
· The word rendered chastening or as the Revised Standard Version has it discipline and instruction of the Lord, “may refer to all that knowledge which is proper for children, including elementary principles and rules for behavior, etc.”
· Admonition means instruction and “may imply whatever is necessary to form the mind, to touch, regulate, and purify the passions, and necessarily includes the whole of religion” (Adam Clarke). Such instruction originates with the Lord in his word.
With these things in mind, we suggest ten things parents need to teach their children.
Parents should teach their children…
1. That they are the special creation of God. (Gen. 1:26, Gen. 2:7). Children need to be impressed with a sense of something extraordinary in the formation of their body and soul.
2. There is value and purpose to life (Rom. 12:1-5; 2 Tim.1:9). Children need to understand that their life is precious in the sight of God.
3. To love the word of God (Ps. 119:11; 105). The Bible is God’s special communication with his creation. Children need to learn early in life to have a respect for Scripture and develop the habit of daily Bible reading.
4. Respect for authority (Prov. 1:8; 5:7). Children need to learn early in life that they must respect authority beginning with parental authority and extending to school and civil authorities.
5. The value of discipline (Prov. 23:13). Fathers and mothers must exercise discipline because “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction will drive it far from him” (Prov. 22:15).
6. To avoid bad people (Prov. 4:14-16). Children need to learn early on that there are bad people in the world and that they should be avoided.
7. The importance of sexual purity (Prov. 6:24). Parents should not hesitate to warn their children of the dangers of pre-marital and extra-marital sex for the Word of God is quite clear on such matters (read Prov. 7:4-23).
8. The value of honesty (Prov. 11:1, 6, 28:6). Honesty is the basis for all morality and the foundation of every relationship. Without honesty there can be no trust and relationships suffer. This includes the proper use of the tongue in always telling the truth (Prov. 21:23; 19:1; 15:2).
9. The value of a peaceful home-life (Prov. 17:1; 14; 22:6). When children live with arguing and turmoil they become insecure. Parents need to provide a home filled with love, devotion to God and peace.
10. To be faithful in their service to God (1 Cor. 4:2; Matt. 6:33). Parents should not only teach faithfulness, they should exemplify it. If parents do not attend worship, read and study the Bible they cannot hope to instill faithfulness in their children.
-Dan Flournoy (Reel Road church of Christ)
