A Parent’s No1 Job

 A Parent’s No1 Job

 

We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders. . . . So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.

PSALM 78.4, 7

 

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

1 TIMOTHY 6.17

 

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

ROMANS 15.4

 

What is the most important thing your parents have taught you? To look both ways before crossing the street? How to develop friendships? How to run a household or a business? How to show respect?

All those things are important. God is so good to us to give us parents who are willing to teach us the things we need to know to navigate living in this world. But there is one thing in particular God holds parents responsible for teaching to their children, one thing God wants children to learn more than anything else, how to trust God. He wants parents to teach their children how to put confidence in God rather than in themselves or in anything or anyone else.

Parents can’t force their children to learn to trust God, but they can teach them about trusting God. Sometimes learning comes from direct instruction — talking through different aspects of our faith together. And it is important to study Scripture and talk about what it means to trust God. But teaching others to trust God is best done by example. Parents teach best by trusting God themselves and by welcoming rather than resenting opportunities to trust God in new ways.