In the Bible, you’d see certain duties that parents must perform, and explain 5 of the most important ones. Most of the criminal activities happening in our society today are as a result of faulty parental upbringing.
When parents refuse to train their children in the way of the Lord, society will suffer its consequences. Therefore, as Christian parents, you must determine to raise your children in a godly way, especially from a young age. By the time they grow older, they’ll become responsible individuals who bring honor to the family.
But the truth is, you can’t depend on your wisdom and knowledge alone to raise a child. Fortunately, the Bible provides guidance through stories and verses that you can follow in your parenting journey. In this article, you’ll find out the roles assigned to you as Christian parents according to the scripture.
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Right from the time children are in their toddler stage, you’ll notice they always love to do things on their own. Sometimes, these things may be harmful to them, but they still want to try them out. And as children begin to grow older, they continue to strive for independence. It’s perfectly normal for them to act rebellious at the early stage of their lives. But if you play your part as parents, your children will grow up in the way of the Lord and not depart from it.
Here are the 5 important duties you should try to perform in the lives of your children.
1. Always Pray for Your Children
Prayer is the most important duty of godly parents to their children. In the book of Job 1:5, the Bible reveals that Job offers sacrifices to the Lord every morning on behalf of his children, just in case they’ve sinned against God in their hearts. In the same way, you as parents must continually pray for your children every morning, committing their ways to God’s hands.
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Whenever you want to pray for your children, mention each of their names. Commit their education, health, career, finances, and future into the hands of the heavenly Father. Likewise, rebuke every spirit that opposes God’s word and the will of God in their hearts. If you make praying for your kids a habit, they’ll begin to succeed and excel in their life endeavors.
Furthermore, teach your children how to pray for themselves. Encourage them to communicate with Christ Jesus about everything going on in their lives. Teach your children simple ways to begin their prayer sessions and words to say for a start.
During your daily devotions, ask them to pray for themselves and the family. If you notice your kids often lose concentration during prayer time, correct them in love. Remind them that the prayer time is the most important time of the day, and it requires their full attention.
As your kids develop healthy prayer lives, they’ll begin to grow spiritually with the help of the Holy Spirit. Hence, the fruits of the spirit will become evident in their speech and behaviors.
2. Train Them in a Godly Way
Proverbs 22:6 reads, “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” In other words, whichever path your children will go through in life is dependent on your instructions and guidance.
There are two ways in which you can train your children—the right way and the wrong way. As each name suggests, the wrong way is the way of the world, while the right way is the way of the Lord. So in your best interest and for their future’s sake, guide them on the right path, and they’ll continue to follow that way forever.
Normally, the best and most proper time to train children to follow God’s ways is when they’re little. During that period, they learn faster and are easier to guide. Start by telling your kids Bible stories about Lord Jesus Christ and His unconditional love for them. Teach them about the ten commandments and the importance of obeying them.
Also set apart quality time daily to read the holy Bible to them and explain the morals in each story. Always remind your children about the need to follow the commandment of God and the dangers of sin.
Additionally, take them to church with you so that they can learn more about the word of God in a different way. Most importantly, teach your kids how to read and meditate on the Bible by themselves, and ask for their favorite Bible verses from time to time.
When you guide your children in the way of the Lord from a young age, they will continue to grow in the knowledge of God. Moreover, they won’t engage in sinful habits and perversions that have taken over the world today.
One of the major parts of Christian parenting is discipline. Proverbs 3:11-12 tells us that discipline is a sign of love, “For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.” Similarly, Hebrews 12:6-11 explains that discipline is proof of God’s love to us, His children.
In the same way, you must deliberately reprove your kids whenever they break certain rules or disobey your orders. In 1 Samuel 2:12-36, we see the biblical account of Hophni and Phineas’ numerous atrocities against those who go to worship at the temple in Shiloh. Interestingly, these two men were the sons of the prophet Eli, but they were not upright in the sight of God. Because Eli refused to discipline his sons, the Lord declared judgment on his household, and they all died untimely.
As you discipline your children from time to time, they’ll continue to express their anger and frustration at you. Don’t be discouraged; you’re simply doing the right thing as loving parents.
No matter the seriousness of your children’s wrongdoing, you must correct them in love and not in anger. Inflicting injuries on your kids or punishing them severely can negatively affect them both physically and psychologically. Moreover, it can make them more rebellious, creating a separation between you and them.
Whenever you punish your children, explain the reason for the punishment so that they won’t feel as though you’re making them suffer unfairly. Always remind your kids of the love you have for them and the importance of obeying basic rules.
Children who obey parental instructions often grow up to become respectful, law-abiding citizens of every country they reside in.
4. Provide for Their Needs
From the moment you decide to have kids, you must prepare to meet their basic needs, especially when they’re young. Children need nutritious food every day to survive and to function properly. Try to provide your kids with the right kind of food every day to ensure they grow healthily.
If your kids experience an allergic reaction after eating a particular food, remove it from their diet. Feeding children can be really expensive, so you need to pray for divine provision at all times.
Additionally, you must provide clean and comfortable clothes for your kids to wear. Even if the clothes are not of a high quality, ensure they’re always clean and neatly kept.
Furthermore, children need a comfortable and safe place to live. Know that the environment your children live in has a great impact on their behavior. If you reside in the same environment as people struggling with drug or gambling addiction, they may influence your children negatively. Therefore, try your best to secure a great apartment in a decent neighborhood for your family.
While allowing your kids to live with extended family members is a good thing, it should be for a short period. As parents, your children need you more than anyone else in your family. Even if you’re not earning lots of money from your job, strive to give them the best of everything they need.
Make your home a place of laughter, love and joy for your children, and they will gladly accept everything you offer them. Always remind yourself of this great Bible verse, 1 Timothy 5:8: “But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.”
5. Be a Good Example to Them
Most times, children imitate the behaviors of their parents, whether good or bad. For this reason, you should determine to be great examples to your children. Genesis 27 tells the story of how Jacob deceived his father, Isaac, to collect the blessings belonging to Esau, his brother.
In Genesis 37, the Bible gives a detailed account of how Jacob’s sons also deceived him about the death of his favorite son, Joseph. Jacob’s sons probably learned their deceptive behaviors from him.
2 Timothy 1:5, the Apostle Paul acknowledges Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice for their faithfulness and impact in Timothy’s life. These biblical stories and verses teach us the importance of being good examples to our children.
Everytime your children stay with you, they observe and copy your behaviors. If you tell lies or say cuss words, they’ll develop the habit of telling lies and cursing. On the contrary, if you’re hardworking, prayerful, and modest, your children will likely imitate these behaviors.
Therefore, your children would most likely pay attention to the way you live more than the things you say to them. If you want them to be good Christians, make an effort to pray regularly, read the Bible, attend church programs, and fully commit to things that concerns the kingdom of God.
There are several Bible verses about parent/child relationships throughout scripture. You’d see most of these verses in the proverbs of Solomon, in the Old Testament and the teachings of Apostle Paul in the New Testament. Here are some of the most common verses about parents and children:
1. Proverbs 22:15
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
2. Proverbs 1:8-9
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
3. Hebrews 12:8
If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
4. Proverbs 15:20
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
5. Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
6. Titus 2:3-4
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children.
7. Proverbs 17:25
A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
8. Proverbs 17:6
Children’s children are a crown of old men, and the glory of children are their fathers.
9. Proverbs 3:1-2
My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
10. Deuteronmony 21:18-19
“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives.
Kennie Oguntoyinbo is a freelance content writer, editor and proofreader with over 4 years of experience. She is highly skilled in creating captivating and informative content across the Christian, relationship, and parenting niches. With a deep love for Christian-related articles, she writes content that inspires the readers, combining biblical lessons with practical knowledge. Whether writing devotional blogs, relationship advice, or family-focused articles, she aims to glorify God while connecting with readers through relatable, encouraging, faith-driven articles.
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