Duty to provide for our children

Children are not born out of their own will, but parents plan to have them. Some children are born from two young adults who are not ready to fend for them and in the course of that, they choose not to take responsibility of the child born.

Whether the child is born outside wedlock or within wedlock, s/he is supposed to be taken care of by the parents. A child is a human being created in the image and likeness of God. As such, children need to be treated with respect and proper care.

In 2 Corinthians 12:14, Paul writes: “Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.”

It is the responsibility of parents to store and provide for their children. Provision for one’s children might not be obvious to all. Some think and expect other people to do it for them. Some will shovel the responsibility to one spouse while the other becomes a spectator, not ready to take part in providing for the children.

Beloved parents, both the mother and father are responsible for providing for the children. The father should take the lead, as the mother assists to reach the goal. It is important that parents provide adequate and necessary food, clothing, shelter and all that is needed for the physical growth of their children, especially in the early years.

It is a shame that in our world, millions of children are ill-fed and poorly taken care of. Malnutrition and other forms of mental disability have been the cause of many deaths among children. This is a challenge to the Christian community. Christians should ensure that children have the basic essentials for their physical growth.

While other groups of people may assist a needy family, parents have the primary responsibility of taking care of the family.