Some parents get so busy worrying about and providing for their children and preparing them for life that they forget to prepare their children for eternity.
In the world today, there are those who do not believe in God, while others believe there is a God, but fail to follow his way. Spiritual matters need to be part to the upbringing of children.
Parents are interested in seeing that their children are well-prepared to go out into the world. Millions of dollars are spent each year on education so that young people can have the best education possible. This is the way it ought to be, for the children of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. Each generation normally wants the next generation to be better equipped than it was. While getting a good education is important, one must not forget spiritual training. God needs to be — must be — a vital part of our lives, as well as the lives of children. Such lessons help the younger generation to value life and good morals. Many young people have no concern about such things because they have not had the opportunity to learn about them.
God told his people that they were to teach their children about all the things he had done for them. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord, and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart, 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. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house and on thy gates” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). God wants the children to know about all he has done for man.
Children need to be told of God’s great love for all mankind, including them. They need to know about his willingness to send his only begotten Son to die for them (John 3:16). They need to know he is alive and well today. Such teaching will help youth know they have someone to turn to when life is difficult. They will learn that God has blessed man with leaders to help them and keep them from harm, and that respect for officials is important.
Children also need to know that God is important to their parents. If they see their parents not following God, not going to worship and never putting God first in their lives, then the children will most likely not follow God. A parent’s role in this training is so vital.
Children are so precious. They are blessings from God and need to have proper training in all matters physical and spiritual.