Lord’s Day, Vol. 3 No. 12

The Role of Parents in a Christian Home (Part 2)

An exemplary father was recorded in the person of Job who prayed continually for his children, “And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually” (Job 1:5).

Stormie also commented, “An important part of our job is to keep the details of our child’s life covered in prayer. In doing so, I learned to identify every concern, fear, worry, or possible scenario that come into my mind as a prompting by the Holy Spirit to pray for that particular thing.”¹

The Book of Proverbs provides wise counsel on the role of parents in a Christian home.

(1) Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. (Proverbs 24:3-4)

(2) For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6)

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

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

(5) Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. (Proverbs 23:13)

(6) The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. (Proverbs 29:15)

Charles Bridges had the following thoughts on Proverbs 22:6, “Everything hands on his training. Two ways lie before him – the way he would go, headlong to ruin; and the way in which he should go, the pathway to heaven.” Bridges further elaborated in greater details, “but this training must be practical. The mere talk to a child about religion, without bringing it to bear upon his loose habits, and self-willed tempers, is utterly ineffective…

We are all spreading around us an influence, whether for good or for evil. Here lies in our families the responsibility of Christian consistency…A well trained child gladly looks to his parents’ godliness as his model picture, someone to copy after…Education is utterly a means of grace when conducted in the spirit, and on the principles of the Word of God, it is a means of imparting it. The use of the rod in child training is also clearly taught.”²

The concept of constantly imparting Christian values to our children is taught in Deuteronomy 6:5-7, “5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

In Isaiah 28:9-10, “9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk… 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” This can be practised when the family spends time together, prays together, and has regular family devotion where parents teach their children the Word of God.

In summary, parents are to teach their children the Holy Scripture, to keep and do His commandments, trusting in the promises of God.

Yours lovingly in Christ,

Pr. Lek Aik Wee

¹ Stormier Omartian, The Power of a Praying Parent, Kingsway Publications, 1995, p13.

² Charles Bridges, Proverbs, The Banner of Truth Trust, 1994, 40.