One of the most regrettable and tragic features of our civilization is excessive disobedience to parents by their children, when they are minors, and lack of reverence and respect when they are older, unfortunately this manifests itself in many ways. Also in Christian families; during the multiple trips of the last thirty years, we have been welcomed into many homes; the piety and beauty of some of them still remain in our hearts as pleasant and simple memories; other houses, however, have given us the most painful impressions. Stubborn or spoiled children not only bring perpetual misfortune to themselves, but also cause discomfort to all who relate to them and announce bad things for the days to come.
In most cases, children are less guilty than their parents. The lack of honor of parents, wherever we find it, is due in large part to parents deviating from the biblical norm. Today, the father imagines himself fulfilling his obligations by providing food. and clothing their children and, at times, acting as a kind of moral policeman. Very often, the mother is limited to playing the role of servant, becoming the slave of her children, performing various tasks that they could perform, to free them in frivolous activities, instead of training them to be people. Useful. The consequence was that the house, which by its order, holiness and love, was to be a miniature of the sky, degenerated into a “stopping point for the day and parking for the night,” according to someone, succinctly, he said.
- Before describing the duties of parents to their children.
- We must point out that they cannot properly discipline their children unless they have learned to govern themselves.
- How can they expect the will of their children to be controlled and controlled by manifestations of anger.
- If they themselves give free rein to their own feelings? The character of the parents is largely reproduced in their descendants.
- “Did Adam live one hundred and thirty years and beget a son in his likeness.
- In his image? (Genesis 5.
- 3).
- Parents themselves must live in submission to God if they want the obedience of their children.
- This principle is emphasized many times in Scripture.
- “So you.
- Who teach others.
- Don’t you teach yourself?” (Rom.
- 2.
- 21).
- As for the pastor or elder of the church.
- It is written that he should be someone who manages his own house well.
- Raising his children under discipline.
- With due respect (because if someone does not know how to manage his own house.
- What how will you take care of the church Gods?)? (1 Timothy 3.
- 5).
- And if a man or a woman does not know how to control their own mind (Prov.
- 25:28).
- How can they take care of their children?.
God entrusted parents with a solemn and courageous privilege. We do not exaggerate by saying that hope and blessing or the curse and ruin of the next generation are in your hands. Their families are the nurseries of the Church and the State, and from what they now grow, these will be the fruits they will reap afterwards. They must fulfill their privilege with great diligence and prayer. Of course, God will hold you accountable for how to raise your children, who belong to them, by confiding them to receive care and preservation. The task God has entrusted to parents is not easy, especially on these extremely bad days; however, they can obtain God’s grace if they seek it with sincerity and trust. we must live, promises must be fulfilled, and we must add terrible warnings, so that we do not do this task lightly.
We want to talk about four of the main functions of parents. First, educate your children. “These words that I send you today will be in your heart; do you want to teach your children and talk about them by sitting at home, walking on the road, going to bed and getting up? (Dt 6. 6-7). This duty is too important to be transferred others; God demands the responsibility of parents, not Sunday school teachers, to educate their children. doing sporadically or occasionally, but must receive constant attention God’s glorious character, the demands of his law, wickedness excess of man, the wonderful gift of his Son and the terrible condemnation that will be the reward of all who despise and reject him, these things have to be constantly presented to children. Are they too young to understand?
“And do you, fathers, not provoke the wrath of your children, but raise you in the discipline and warnings of the Lord?(Ep 6. 4). Should we notice that they? Parents?They are specifically mentioned in this verse, for two reasons: they are the heads of the family and their government has been entrusted to them; parents tend to shift their responsibility to their wives. This instruction should be given by reading the Bible and explaining age-appropriate things to your children. accompanied by teaching them a catechism. Constant dialogue with young people is not as effective as diversifying with questions and answers. If our children know that they will be asked the question after or during Bible reading, they will listen more carefully: asking questions teaches them This method also leads to memory retaining more lessons, because answering defined questions generates specific ideas in our minds. S disciples.
Second, good instructions should be accompanied by good examples; teaching only with the lips can be ineffective; children are very smart at detecting inconsistencies and rejecting hypocrisy; in this sense, parents must humble themselves before God, seeking every day the grace they seek. they desperately need and that only He can give them, what care they must be so that in front of their children they do not say and do things that tent to corrupt their minds or produce bad consequences, if they imitate them!be attentive to what can make them despicable in the eyes of those who must respect and honor them; not only should they teach their children the way of holiness, but they themselves must walk this path, demonstrating with their practice and behavior how pleasant and enjoyable it is to be guided by God’s law.
In the house of believers, the ultimate goal should be family piety, honor God at all times, and other things subordinate to that goal As for family life, neither husband nor wife should transfer to the other any responsibility for spirituality. aspect of family life. The mother certainly has the task of complementing the father’s efforts, as the children appreciate her company more. While parents tend to be very strict and severe, mothers tend to be very kind and tolerant; Therefore, they should be more attentive to anything that weakens the authority of the father. When you forbid something, you shouldn’t let your children. It is admirable to note that the exhortation given in Ephesians 6. 4 is preceded by “Be filled the Spirit?”(Eph 5. 18); while the corresponding exhortation in Colossses 3:21 is preceded by “to live in abundance in you the word of Christ?”(v. 16), demonstrating that parents can only fulfill their duties if they are filled with the Holy Ghost and the Word. God.
Third, instruction and example must be reinforced through correction and discipline. In the first place, it implies the exercise of authority, the correct application of divine law. Concerning Abraham, the father of the faithful, God said: “For I have chosen him to send his sons and his house after him, so that they may keep the way of the Lord and do justice and judgment; for the Lord to bring Abraham what he said about him? (Genesis 18,19). Believing parents, meditate carefully on these words. Abraham did more than just give advice: He vigorously taught God’s law and put his house in order. The rules by which he administered his house were intended for his children to keep “the way of the Lord,” which was right in the eyes of God. This duty was fulfilled by the Patriarch, so that God’s blessing would fall on his family. No family can grow properly without family laws, which include rewards and punishments. This is especially important in early childhood, when moral character has not yet been formed and children do not appreciate or understand their moral motives.
Rules should be simple, clear, logical, and flexible, such as the Ten Commandments, few but relevant moral rules, rather than hundreds of insignificant constraints. One way to unnecessarily provoke our children’s anger is to annoy them with many insignificant and detailed restrictions. and arbitrary rules of perfectionist parents. It is vitally important for the good future of children to be sumissive from an early age. An evil child represents an ungodly adult. Our prisons are full of people who as children knew how to follow their own paths. A child’s slightest offense for violating the rules of the house should not be set aside; because if he finds mercy when he violates a rule, he will expect the same mercy for other crimes, and his disobedience will be more frequent, until the parents are no longer in control, except for the exercise of brute force.
The teaching of the scriptures is clear in this. “Madness is tied to the child’s heart, but will discipline keep him away from him?(Proverbs 22. 15; see also 23. 13-14). Therefore, God affirmed, “He who holds the rod has annoys his son, but he who loves him disciplines him early?(Prov. 13. 24). And yet, “Punish your child, as long as there is hope, but don’t do too much to the point of killing him?”(Pr 19:18). Don’t let a mad affection stop you from doing your duty. Surely God loves your children with a deeper parental feeling that you love your children, but He tells us, “Do I rebuke and discipline how much I love?”(Revelation 3. 19) ; Cf. He’s 12. 6. ” Stick and discipline give wisdom, but does the child given to himself get to embarrass his mother?(Pr 29. 15). Severity should be used in the early years of the child, before age and stubbornness harden against fear and the poignant nature of correction. Put the stick away and you will ruin your child; don’t use it and you’ll suffer the consequences.
It is almost useless to point out that the scriptures mentioned above are not intended to instill the idea that our home should be characterized by a realm of terror; children can be governed and disciplined so as not to lose the respect and affection of their parents. Let us be careful not to spoil his temper, making illogical demands, provoking them to anger, punishing them by expressing our own anger The father must punish the disobedient son not because he is angry, but because it is right to do so, God demands, like his son’s rebellion. Never make a threat if you do not intend to execute it. Remember that being knowledgeable is good for your child, but being well-controlled is even better.
Be aware of the unconscious influences surrounding your child. Explore ways to make your home attractive, not using carnal and worldly resources, but using noble ideals, instilling a spirit of altruism and developing a pleasant and happy fraternity. Don’t let your kids get involved in bad business. Carefully review the magazines and books that come to your home, watch friends occasionally invite your children home and the friendships they make. frivolity and sin.
Fourth, the last and most important duty, with regard to the physical and spiritual well-being of your children, is the intense plea to God on your behalf. Without it, all other tasks are ineffective. The means are useless, except when the Lord blesses them; the throne of grace must be fervently sought, so that our efforts to educate children for the glory of God may succeed; it is true that there must be a humble submission to the sovereign. will of God, a prostration before the truth of choice. On the other hand, the privilege of faith is to appropriate divine promises and remember that the fervent and effective prayer of a righteous person produces many results. the pious Job “called” his children and sanctified them; Did he get up at dawn and offer holocausts according to everyone’s numbers?(Job 1. 5). A climate of prayer must permeate the house and be sucked in by all who share it.