Preaching on Sons and Daughters: Relationship and the Family Unit
Today, our focus turns to one of the most fundamental and cherished relationships in human experience, a relationship at the heart of the family unit, which is the foundational block of society and the church: Our Sons and Daughters.
The family is a divine institution, designed by God, and the roles within it carry immense spiritual significance and responsibility. Understanding God's perspective on children, and the mutual obligations between parents and children, is crucial for building strong, godly families that honor Him.
Let's dive into God's Word to understand His beautiful design for our sons and daughters.
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I. The Bible Says That Children Are:
Before we talk about responsibilities, let's establish God's profound view of children. They are not burdens, accidents, or mere extensions of ourselves; they are precious gifts from God.
A. A gift from God (Genesis 33:5): When Jacob reunited with Esau, Esau asked, "Who are these with you?" Jacob answered, "The children God has graciously given your servant." Children are a direct act of God's grace and favor, entrusted to our care.
B. They are a heritage from the Lord (Psalm 127:3): "Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him." The word "heritage" implies an inheritance, something valuable and enduring, passed down as a blessing. They are a precious trust from God.
C. Grandchildren are the crown of the aged (Proverbs 17:6): "Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children." This beautiful proverb illustrates the joy and honor that grandchildren bring to their elders, a testament to God's continued blessings through generations.
Children are a blessing, a gift, and a heritage. This understanding forms the foundation for how we approach our roles as parents and as children.
II. The Responsibility of Parents Toward Their Children
Given that children are such a precious gift from God, parents bear a solemn and sacred responsibility for their upbringing and spiritual formation. God gives us this profound responsibility so that we may raise them as He desires, for His glory.
A. Parents are responsible for the education of their children: This encompasses not just academic learning, but primarily moral and spiritual instruction.
B. We must diligently teach them the word of God (Deuteronomy 6:6-7): Moses commands Israel, "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Teaching God's Word must be an ongoing, intentional, and integral part of daily life.
C. We must teach them to fear God (Deuteronomy 31:12-13): Moses also instructed Israel, "Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess." True education begins with teaching reverence for God.
D. We must teach them the Scriptures from a very young age (2 Timothy 3:15): Paul reminds Timothy, "and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." Early immersion in Scripture is vital for spiritual wisdom and salvation.
E. We must instruct them in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6): "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." This proverb speaks of deliberate, consistent training and instruction, guiding them in righteousness.
F. They should punish him when they are disobedient: While always done in love and for correction, discipline is a necessary aspect of training. * Proverbs 13:24 Proverbs 29:15-17 Hebrews 12:5-9: The ultimate example of loving discipline comes from God our Father, who disciplines us for our good, just as earthly fathers do their children.
G. They should not provoke or discourage their children: While discipline is necessary, it must be balanced with grace and encouragement, avoiding harshness or favoritism. * Ephesians 6:4 Colossians 3:21:
III. The Responsibility of Children
Children are not passive recipients; they also have clear responsibilities before God that they must fulfill. To neglect these is to be in rebellion against God and His design.
A. Children also have responsibilities that they must fulfill, otherwise they would be in rebellion against God. Just as parents are accountable, so are children.
B. Remember their Creator (Ecclesiastes 12:1): "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them.'" Youth is the prime time to seek and remember God before the challenges and regrets of later life set in.
C. Obey God (Deuteronomy 30:2): The entire covenant of God with Israel was built on the principle of obedience. Children, as part of God's people, are called to obey Him.
D. Hear their parents' instructions (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." Wisdom begins with listening to and valuing the guidance of those who love you.
E. Respect their parents (Ephesians 6:2; Hebrews 12:9) Hebrews 12:9 emphasizes that we should even more readily submit to God, our spiritual Father, for discipline.
F. Take care of their parents when they are traveling (1 Timothy 5:4): Paul instructs children and grandchildren to fulfill their duty to provide for their parents and grandparents in their old age or times of need: "But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God." This demonstrates practical love and gratitude.
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Conclusion
The family is a sacred trust. Both parents and children have divinely appointed responsibilities that must be faithfully fulfilled. To neglect these duties is to invite spiritual and relational brokenness, and ultimately, to be found lacking before God.
As 2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds us, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." This accountability extends to our roles within the family.
Let us strive, by God's grace and power, to be responsible parents who diligently train, instruct, and love our children in the Lord. And let our children respond with obedience, respect, and care, remembering their Creator and honoring those who raised them. When families live according to God's design, they become a powerful testimony to His goodness and grace in the world.
