I’ve always loved kids because they are blessings from God.
Just two weeks ago, my wife had a positive pregnancy test.
While we are happy about the pregnancy, we also had a fun talk about the future of our kids.
Of course, we want the best for our kids.
But there are still lots of issues about parenting we would need God’s help on.
Some include;
How hard should we be on our kids?
How should we bring up our children in the fear of God?
What important qualities do we want in our kids?
How many kids do we want?
It is quite normal to ask these questions.
And luckily, there are bible verses about raising children we can learn from.
Not surprisingly, My wife and I have conflicting experiences during childhood.
I was a cool dude while growing up.
And that was because my dad was so principled and harsh.
He had his rules; if you break them you will be severely punished.
For this reason, I was always so scared of my dad.
In fact, once he is around, I quickly leave the sitting room to study in the dining.
On the other hand, my wife was treated with kid gloves by her parents.
She believes that raising up kids is not entirely about being harsh and principled.
That we must instill love in our kids to get the best out of them.
If you are searching for scriptures on how to raise your child, I have compiled bible verses to inspire you.
Prayer for Patience with Child Behavior
Bible verses about raising children
1. Proverbs 29:15
A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.
2. Proverbs 13:24
Whoever spares the rod hates their children,
but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.
3. Psalm 127:2-5
Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.
4. Colossians 3:21
Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
5. Genesis 18:19
For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
6. Deuteronomy 6:7
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
7. Proverbs 23:13
Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
8. Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
9. Deuteronomy 11:19
Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
10. Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
11. Deuteronomy 4:9-10
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. 10 Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”
12. John 16:21
A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.
13. Proverbs 3:12
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.
14. Proverbs 22:6
Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
15. Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
16. Proverbs 13:24
Whoever spares the rod hates their children,
but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.
17. Proverbs 1:8-9
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9 They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.
18. Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
19. 1 Timothy 5:8
Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
20. 2 Corinthians 12:14
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.
Final points about child upbringing and parenting responsibilities
1. Do not spare the rod
While growing up, my dad was very principled.
There is no limit to my dad’s punishment.
He was strict to the core.
Over the years, I began to see some sense in what he did.
One minute he is so strict and the next he extends a hand of friendship.
The truth is, I believe his actions help shape me into a better person.
Parenting responsibilities must involve the punishment of kids when they go wrong.
Proverbs 29:15
A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.
2. Do not push your kids to the wall
Raising kids must be have been a difficult task for my parents.
We are five hefty guys and it was really challenging for my parents.
One of my brothers had the lion’s share of my dad’s punishment.
At a very tender age, he was already smoking and moving around with bad friends.
Just under 20, he was expelled from college.
My dad was really tough on him and I doubt those actions made him better.
Things got worse in the university and later on after that.
But since he got married and started having his own children, he seems to have cooled down a little.
There is a limit we should go when reprimanding our kids.
Too little is bad, while too much is worse.
At every point, we must talk to our kid, extending that fellowship of love.
Colossians 3:21
Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
3. Raising up kids starts with learning about christ
As Christians, we all want godly children.
We want kids that will ultimately be saved in the end.
That starts with ourselves.
Are we born again?
To teach our kids, we must have basic knowledge about Christ.
We must also read through the bible to find words of encouragement.
My mum was always strict with us from the beginning about worshipping God.
At least once a week, we knew we must be in church to serve God.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
4. Providing for your kids is a must
I am privileged to have had a near-perfect upbringing by my parents.
I never lacked anything.
My parents are so caring.
But this was only possible because of God’s blessings over my family.
There are families today all over the world struggling with the basics –food, clothing, and shelter.
If you cant provide for your family, it sends the wrong message.
I have seen girls go into prostitution at a very tender age to raise up funds for the family.
I have also seen young men go into stealing just to get some money for their upkeep.
But there is no reason to panic.
God has assured us that, at all times, he will make provisions for our needs.
Here are the words of David. He said,
I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.Psalm 37:25.
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