DEVOTION – DAY 276

Ephesians 6:4 “Good Parenting”

 

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

 

Parenting is never easy. The Bible offers some help and guidance. Ephesians 6:4 is one of the verses that offers some guidance. Parents are instructed by Paul not to exasperate their children. Paul obviously does not mean parents should not withdraw certain privileges so that they can teach their children about self-control and discipline. For example, if parents limit the number of hours their children may spend playing computer games, or using their handphones, or insisting that they complete their homework first before they watch TV, they would end up exasperating their children. But these restrictions were imposed for the good of their children. These actions on children are reasonable.

 

What Paul was talking about were unreasonable demands made on their children. We know of ambitious parents that wanted their children to excel in their studies so that their children could become doctors. Their children may have little interest in being doctors but they were pressured to study medicine because that was what their parents wanted them to do. Or parents insist that their children marry someone that they approve of. The potential spouse must be from the right family, or right background. Such parents do not ask what their children think of the matter. They end up with strained relationships with their children.

 

Paul also balanced his advice on parenting by telling parents to raise their children by training and instructing them in God’s Word. This is so necessary because if children have a solid foundation in God’s Word, the Bible, they will be able to make wise choices when they grow into adulthood. For example, children would not be confused about their gender because the Bible declares that God made mankind male and female. And if parents are good role models for their children, serving in church, and obedient to God’s Word – their children would be influenced positively to follow in the footsteps of their parents when they grow up. But if parents are constantly disagreeing with each other, it will cause their children to want to stay away from home because the atmosphere is tense and unhappy. The Lord knows parenting is not easy and that is why the Bible does contain verses that point to good parenting.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for teaching us about parenting and reminding parents the importance of their roles as parents and its impact on children. Please help those who are parents to be good role models for their children and to bring up their children to love and obey you all the days of their lives. We pray this in the holy name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Questions

  1. What are some examples of bad parenting that you see today?
  2. What are some examples of good parenting that you have come across that you would like to adopt?
  3. Why do some parents try to live out their dreams through their children and what some examples that you know where it backfired?
  4. How can you train and instruct your children in the Lord?