Our first lesson this year is on parenting. Whether the child is born outside or inside wedlock, a parent has the responsibility to make sure their child is raised the proper, godly way. Having more children equals more responsibility for the parent.
In Samuel 1:24 – 28; the word of God says : “After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli and she said to him, as surely as you live, my Lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For this whole life, he will be given over to the Lord†and he worshipped the Lord there.
When Samuel was born, he was in the care of his parents; especially his mother. When he was weaned, Samuel was dedicated over to God for his whole life. Children have to be dedicated to God through the prayers of men and women of God. They should continuously be prayed for by the parents. The child’s life should be committed before God all the time. Pray for the salvation of the child, pray that the child knows and accepts Christ as Lord and saviour of his/her life. God has given parents authority over their children and requires them to train their children in a God-centred manner.
Deut 6: 6-7 reads: “these commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts, impress them on your children, talk about them in your home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Parents are required to speak about godly ways to their children always. Parents have a congregation in their homes which has to be held with the Word of God.
Fathers are primarily responsible for child training. Ephesians 6: 4 says, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, instead, bring them up in the training and instructions of the Lord.†The chief goal must be to train children in the fear of the Lord.
