In The Master's Service

Print this page

VALUING OUR CHILDREN

Elder Michael Green, Jr.

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth." Psalms 127:3-4

Do you value your children? This is an important question to ponder in the times that we are living. Juvenile crimes remain high in many parts of our nation. We also have an abortion rate of over one million unborn babies per year. These and many other statistics indicate that many people do not place a high value on their children. Large numbers of those that are not aborted in the womb are left to raise themselves and often become entangled in questionable activities. The purpose of this article is to examine what the Bible says about children and what our responsibilities are toward them as parents.

In Psalm 127, verse three, Solomon writes, "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord." This means children are inheritances that are given to parents from the Lord Himself. This idea should dissuade anyone who is contemplating aborting an unborn child. They are a gift from our Heavenly Father. When we receive an inheritance from a family member or loved one, we generally hold that gift in high regard and use it responsibly. This is the message that Solomon is trying to convey About children. They are a blessing to enjoy and are given to us to train up and point in the right direction.

In verse four of this Psalm, Solomon uses the illustration of an arrow to describe children in the hands of their parents. In ancient times the bow and arrow was one of the most important tools of hunters throughout the world. The arrows were carefully crafted in order to hit their intended target. Many hours were spent smoothing and straightening these arrows. The hunter depended on an arrow's accuracy in order to survive. The same care and attention should be given to our children because they are an inheritance from the Lord. They are also the ones that we will one day be dependent upon when we become unable to care for ourselves. It is our responsibility to shape and mould our children in such a manner that they hit their intended target. The target for the Christian family should be the mark of the high calling that is in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).

As Christians we show value for our children by training them up in the Lord. In Ephesians 4, Paul writes that we are not to "provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." What does it mean to provoke your children? It means to purposely anger them without reason. Could it be that many of the violent crimes that youngsters commit today are out of anger towards neglectful parents? Sadly, I have counseled numerous children who do not have a mother or father to come home to after school. Many parents are sacrificing time with their children in order to increase their material wealth. This leads to angry children who are bitter towards their parents. These angry children often become engaged in other immoral activities.

If we truly value our children, then we will do what it takes to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. This includes taking them to the place where his word is preached. Do you require your children to attend church with you? This also includes teaching and living a Godly example in front of them at home. Many so-called Christians have done great harm by acting holy in the presence of others and then acting completely opposite in the privacy of their homes. As Christians we are called to let our conversation (daily walk) be as becometh the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1: 27). We need to be especially careful to obey this commandment in our own homes! Both of these tasks can sometimes be daunting, but we can gain comfort from Proverbs 22:6. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." If we are faithful to take our children to a church where truth is preached, then it will be a blessing to them as they mature. If we put their spiritual needs above our selfish, material needs, then we will have pointed them toward the correct target.