Parents and Their Responsibility

God has given parents the responsibility to train children (Dt. 6:4-6). This responsbility is not easily fulfilled. When difficulties arise, look to God, His Word and godly people for answers. We must point a child toward the total adequacy of God and the total inadequacy of ourselves.

An Example

Think about how children learn a language. They spend months just listening. They hear the words of the language, the accent and the tone of voice. All of this occurs naturally without the parent even thinking about what he or she is doing. If a child cannot hear, he or she must learn some other means of communication. Many have successfully taught a young child to do some communication by using signs even before they are ready to formulate words.

How a child learns a language illustrates the truth that children are learning your spiritual values through what they see and hear even before you begin formal training. It will be a long time before they are able to verbalize their own views; however, the parental role of training is already firmly in place.