7 Biblical Principles on ParentingSample

The Privilege of Parenting

Children are a gift from God! I didn’t say parenting was easy, but God gives us kids as a gift to bring joy, life, and growth into our lives. And you as the parent are a gift to them to bring love, strength, protection, and growth into their lives.

Be careful of negative attitudes towards kids or parenting that can be acceptable in our culture, like treating children as a pain, or as something we tolerate. And while there are plenty of trying, frustrating, and painful times in parenting, there are also times of great peace, joy, and fulfillment in raising your children. One of the main reasons why people see parenting as a bother has more to do with the lack of training the parent has than it does with the overall role of being the parent or guardian of a child.

Learning to lead, guide, and parent your child the way the Bible teaches us to do will most often result in your child growing up to bring joy to you and the world around them. Now, I note, “most often,” because even if you made no mistakes as a parent, which is impossible, God has given each of us the freedom to choose our path. Just like with Adam and Eve, God was the perfect parent but also gave them the freedom to choose. And then He stayed with them and helped them walk out the consequences of their choices.

Psalm 127 says that kids are like arrows in the hands of a warrior! That’s incredible! That means that God intends for us and our children to make an impact on the earth. As parents, we’re not just keeping little humans alive, we’re shaping arrows. It’s a sad day if a warrior is facing an enemy only to find his arrows have not been prepared well to fly. Let's prepare them to fulfill their purpose!