4.What are the fathers to do with their children?

They are to bring them up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.

We Christians should not look to the state or other civil government to train our children in godly behavior. The responsibility of instructing and disciplining children in the righteous and holy ways of the Lord belongs to the parents of the children.

As we pointed out before, the husband is to exercise sacrificial love for his wife, placing her welfare ahead of his own. This is the foundation of a successful, lasting marriage.

In the same manner, the parents are to sacrifice their own interests for the welfare of their children. This does not mean the children direct the household nor does it mean we are to give the children everything they cry for.

It does mean that the training of children in the ways of the Lord is the number one priority of the Christian household.

Any parent who places some other responsibility or activity ahead of the careful, diligent training of his or her children in the ways of the Lord is probably not in God’s will.

Children require great amounts of time, love, attention, thought, concern, and discipline. They must be taught from the earliest possible age the Word of God. Dedicated discipline and instruction of children, combined with copious amounts of love and affection, are of prime importance in the Kingdom of God.

People who are not willing to give themselves to children in this manner should not get married. If they wish to attend on the Lord without such constant distraction they should remain single.

If they choose to marry, they must accept the responsibility of training up young human beings as future eternal servants of the Lord.

If a father or mother refuses to take charge of the children, he or she will reap the whirlwind. This individual’s religious service is vain and unacceptable because the first task, that of the guidance of the children, has been neglected.

In the hour in which we are living, people have become lovers of themselves. They are unwilling to turn away from their own pursuits in order to guide their children. Such selfishness assures us that the end of all things is at hand.

In certain instances the state is demanding the right to train children. This is an issue concerning which we must be ready to face imprisonment or give our life. Prison, the confiscation of our property, the separation of the members of our family are not pleasant prospects for us. But to allow the civil government to train our children is to betray the Lord Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.

Some things are worth dying for. The spiritual welfare of our children is one such top priority.