“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3, NASB). The Bible doesn’t speak of children as burdens or inconveniences—they are a reward, a blessing, and a sacred trust from God. Psalm 128 echoes the joy of a home centered on God’s ways: “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord… Your children will be like olive plants around your table” (Psalm 128:1,3).
Children are not merely part of life—they are one of God’s greatest blessings. James 1:17 reminds us, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above.” And among those good things, children are uniquely special—not earned, not owed, but given. If children are truly gifts from God, then we must reflect deeply on how we are treating them.
Seeing Children as Gifts Changes Everything
When we begin to see our children as precious gifts rather than possessions or burdens, it transforms our parenting. There’s a clear difference between something earned and something given. You work hard to earn a paycheck, but a gift is freely given because someone loves you. And when something is treasured—when it’s seen as valuable—you handle it with care. Shouldn’t we do even more for a soul made in God’s image?
If we truly recognize our children as gifts, we won’t treat them like things. They are not cattle to be driven or trophies to show off. They are not tools to fulfill our dreams or reflections of our success. They are people, souls, and future disciples of Christ, entrusted into our care. As T.Q. Martin once warned, “We have certified our cotton and corn… and registered our cattle… and we have turned our sons and daughters out to graze.” We should never care more about our possessions than we do about our children.
Parental Responsibility Is Personal
Biblical parenting begins with this unshakable truth: the responsibility starts with your own children. Paul said, “If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith…” (1 Timothy 5:8, NASB). God did not assign the task of raising your children to society, the government, or even the church. He assigned it to you.
Too often, we shift blame. We say the schools are failing, the church isn’t doing enough, or society is too corrupt. In response, we create programs filled with food, fun, and games, hoping to patch over a deeper issue. But these efforts, however well-meaning, miss the mark if parents aren’t taking the lead. When God blesses you with a child, He gives you the responsibility—not to someone else—to shape that soul.
More Than Physical Needs
Certainly, parents must provide food, shelter, and clothing. That is foundational. But 2 Corinthians 12:14 reminds us, “For children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.” This goes far beyond money and meals. It includes moral guidance, spiritual leadership, and shaping character.
Feeding the body while neglecting the soul is a tragic failure. Children need more than things—they need truth. They need to see conviction lived out. They need to witness prayer, worship, and repentance in the home. We teach our kids how to tie their shoes and finish homework—but do we teach them how to pray? Do we show them how to love God?
Don’t Provoke—Nurture
Ephesians 6:4 gives both a warning and a command: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Colossians 3:21 adds, “Do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.” There are two great parenting dangers: wrath and discouragement. Wrath stirs rebellion. Discouragement breaks the spirit.
Parenting in anger does not produce holy children. Constant criticism crushes rather than corrects. The same sun that melts wax can harden clay—what matters is how it’s applied. Scripture calls us to nurture. That word means more than avoiding harm—it means developing the whole child. The Greek term used in Ephesians refers to full training—mental, moral, and spiritual.
We are to cultivate our children like a gardener cultivates the soil—not just preparing the ground, but working it with care and hope. We are to shape their minds and hearts to think as God thinks, to choose what is right, and to follow what is good. That nurturing includes commands (what to do), admonitions (what to emphasize), reproof (when to correct), and discipline (how to reinforce truth through consequences).
The Goal: Godliness
All of this—every effort, every correction, every prayer—has one goal: godliness. We are not trying to raise polite kids, but holy ones. Not to mold successful adults by worldly measures, but sanctified souls who walk with Christ. Morals are part of this: understanding right from wrong, truth from error. But that training must begin at home.
We cannot expect the White House, the courthouse, or even the church house to teach what the home has failed to model. The Word of God is clear: “Bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4, NASB). And children are told to “obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1, NASB).
Conclusion: God Help Us Realize Our Responsibility
The opposite of discouragement is encouragement. Parents must not only correct but also build up their children. Encouragement breathes hope into a child’s heart. It tells them they matter. It tells them they can.
This may be the single greatest factor in their faith: a parent who believes in them, leads them, and points them to Christ. Most children can succeed spiritually if someone shows them how. As parents, we don’t just shape their future—we shape their eternity.
If we want to see stronger homes, stronger churches, and faithful future generations, we must take parenting seriously today. God gave us a sacred trust. Let us raise children who don’t just know about God, but who know Him—who love Him—and who walk in His ways.
The Simple Gospel 