The Biblical Duties of a Proper Parent

THE BIBLICAL DUTIES OF A PROPER PARENT

by Rev. Renee

            The Bible instructs parents to behave in certain ways toward their children, to raise them in a Godly way, and to treat them well and with love.  In my own birth-family, I have found that some of the relatives who claim to be the most religious do not in any way obey the word of God when it comes to raising their children.  When I was younger and not familiar with Scripture, this caused me confusion.  But I now understand that although these relatives may make a point of weekly churchgoing and a big show of other pseudo-religious behaviors, they are not really religious at all, and don’t follow God’s word in most aspects of their lives.  Rather, they operate under the Spirit of False Religion, abusing their loved ones, and using a phony appearance of being religious to keep others from criticizing their selfish or destructive behavior.

            A truly religious and spiritual parent treats her child according to the Biblical model for proper parenting.  These are some of the duties of a parent that are taught in the Bible:

 

  1. To govern with kindness:

            Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord…Ephesians 6:4NIV

            Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged…Colossians 3:21NIV

 

  1. To instruct children in righteousness:

            Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you like down and when you get up….Deuteronomy 11:18-19NIV

            He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children…Psalm 78:5

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

The living, the living- they praise you, as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about your faithfulness…Isaiah 38:19NIV

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation….Joel 1:3NIV

 

  1. To provide for their children:

Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, becausewhat I want is not your possessions but you.  After all, children should not have to save up fortheir parents, but parents for their children…..2 Corinthians 12:14

 

  1. To set a good example:

            For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him….Genesis 18:19

            On that day tell your son, “I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt”….Exodus 13:8NIV

            Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.  Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored….Titus 2:2-5NASB

 

  1. Fathers are to direct their households:

            A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well….1 Timothy 3:12NIV

            He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)…1 Timothy 3:4-5NIV

 

  1. To discipline their children:

            Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul…Proverbs 29:17NIV

            The rod of correction imparts wisdom; but a child left to himself disgraces his mother…Proverbs 29:15 NIV

 

  1. To reflect God’s love in their love:

            As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you….Isaiah 66:13NIV

            As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him….Psalm 103:13NIV

            Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?  Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!….Luke 11:11 NIV

 

            The Lord intended parents to treat their children, His children, with patience, compassion, and love, and to behave in ways that are in the child’s best interests (discipline, teaching, providing for, etc.)  Let us pray for God’s grace as we sincerely try to follow his instructions in raising our own children.

Unfortunately, most of our parents fall far short of God’s plan for family life, or we would not be a sister in Luke 17:3 Ministries.   There is, however, one parent who vastly exceeds the Biblical model for good parenting- one parent who will never let us down, never hurt, abuse, disappoint, betray, or forsake us.  That perfect parent is our heavenly Father.  HALLELUJAH!  PRAISE HIS GLORIOUS NAME!

 

     ***For a study on all the ways our Father demonstrates his love for us, and to learn how he alone is our perfect parent, we hope you will read the article “Who’s Your Daddy? ” by Rev. Renee.  God bless you, dear Sister, as you come to truly understand his Fatherly role in your life.