The Parents’ Privilege

Note to Readers:  This teaching article by Bible Study Fellowship is being re-published on the Faith Hope and Love Blog.  BSF lessons are copyrighted with all rights reserved, but articles they publish can be distributed.   This article is part of the BSF lesson on Matthew, Chapter 2.   It emphasizes the importance of "Making disciples" including the children in your own home.

Published by Bible Study Fellowship.

BSF Home Training Lesson - Matthew Lesson 2 Series III

The Parents’ Privilege

How do you view parenting and the raising of children? Is it a joy or a burden?

Do you find it a delight or an interruption in your plans? Is it a responsibility or a privilege? If God has given you children, he has given you the privilege and responsibility to teach them to know and love God.

Parents are not perfect. But God is gracious and will provide everything an adult needs to raise a child. His Word is truly “a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105  NIV)  in all areas of life, especially parenting.

Cherish and Nurture

The early years are intriguing but demanding for the parent. Each day can require much energy. There is little time to contemplate the awesome influence of these brief years between infancy and entrance to the world outside of home. Cherish these unique years. There will be no other time like this. Later, many others outside your home will influence your child. But for now, parents are the principal teachers in a child’s world. You will never again have such unchallenged credibility or control over what your child learns. You may never again have the concentrated time with this little person that you have during this time.

You will spend much time stimulating your child’s mind. You will encourage him to develop physical skills and foster healthy emotions. Amid this continual learning and development, your child’s spirit is also putting down roots and expanding. The parent must nurture the spiritual life of his child, as well as assisting growth in all the other areas of his life.   Spiritual training is a distinct responsibility that God appoints to parents. But it is also a special privilege they have been given. You have the joyful and life-changing duty to help your child understand the character of God, discover His love, and learn about Jesus’ place in his life.

There is little that is more important than laying this foundation of spiritual truth in a child’s life. To do so from the beginning of his life is a profound gift with lifelong benefits. To allow his sense of God to go undeveloped or not to encourage his growth in biblical knowledge is an injustice. In a home where parents have some knowledge of God, it is an inexcusable default. It is similar to denying proper food to a child who is living in a home with others who are well-fed and healthy.

As a child grows, she gains a sense of independence.   A variety of outside forces try to influence your child’s sense of God. Children are natural imitators. They will imitate what they observe in the home and outside world — good and bad. If the parent is self-indulgent, has a low view of God’s Word, or separates his spiritual from everyday life, the child will likely do the same. It is a tremendous witness for a child to see her parent’s authentic relationship with God.

Whether a child is young or more mature, a parent must make it a priority to spend time with her. Let there be joy and respect in the interactions with your child. This will go a long way in the spiritual development of your child.

Build on BSF

BSF is willing to assist in this spiritual development. But it does not intend to assume the privileged responsibility given to mothers and fathers. Parents can count on their child’s leaders to present the biblical truth in class each week. Leaders are counting on the parents to work with their child, clarifying and building on the spiritual principles taught in the weekly lesson.

As you review the story with your child, explain that the word Magi refers to wise men. Ask your child questions about the story. “What did the Magi follow? For whom were they looking? How did they feel when they found the baby?” Sing a Christmas hymn and talk about the meaning of the words. Locate the Scripture verse and help your child memorize it. Together, compare this week’s and last week’s verses. Talking about the story, hymns and verses is a responsible way to train your child in godly thinking. It nourishes his spiritual growth. You will be fulfilling the privilege God has entrusted to you.

Ask your school-aged child what principle was meaningful to her in the Bible Lesson.   Feel emboldened to ask what action she feels compelled to take and what she will do differently in daily life as a result of studying the Scripture. This will provide great memorable conversation on the way home from BSF. Be certain the conversation is not one-sided; you should share what challenged you in the lecture. Your goal should be to have a spiritual dialogue. Take this time to memorize next week’s verse together. Find out what the Basic Truth or Attribute of God was in that particular lesson.

Seeing your child develop into the person God created him/her to be is a privilege. The effort exerted in nurturing your children in their spiritual growth goes beyond this life and into eternity.