Problem Parents, Problem Children - Godly Parent, Godly Children

As a proud dad of 5 beautiful children, and number six is due in April, I have learned a little about parenting. I am by no means claiming to be an expert on the matter, as I feel I still have a lot to learn, but I do offer my humble opinion.

We have just about successfully raised a generation of children in America who know almost nothing about God, about behaving decently, about respect for others, or the value for human life. Many don’t have a clue about the true meaning purity, marriage, character, or truth.

Have you ever wondered why we have so many "problem" kids? Maybe the problem lies more so with the parents, than with the kids.

The Bible says:

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

Children don’t have to be problem kids if their parents would take the time to train them. They CAN be trained in the way they should go, and when they are old, they will not depart from it!

It is going to require some effort though. That word train is a verb which means it requires some action to take place. If God has blessed you with children, and I believe children are a blessing from God, then He requires you, in reality He commands you to train them. Notice that He commands YOU and not the daycare or public school system to do it. It is my prayer that the Lord would help us understand the responsibility that He entrusts to us, the parents, in raising Godly children. I want us to realize that, while children are also accountable to God, parents should be held responsible for the rearing of their children. One of the verses that I continually remind my children of is:

Pro 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

I also have to continually remind myself that I am to bring up my children in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. (Eph 6:4)

So, lets get back to being the parents that God intended for us to be by performing the duties that he requires of us. May God help us to raise our children to honor Him and respect others.