Parents - The Most Important Teachers

(Proverbs 1:8-9)

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.

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These two small sentences contain within them some very basic and important concepts or principles for parenting.

The first principle here is that both the father and the mother are to instruct and teach their children. Fathers cannot leave the upbringing of their children to their wives alone, as many tend to do. Nor can parents expect that merely setting the children a good example is enough for them to learn good habits and values, and leave instruction and education to the schools. Both parents must constantly instruct and teach children moral values as well as skills for living effectively in this world – things that they have themselves learned from their own parents, from life and experience and other sources of knowledge, especially the Bible. Most importantly, they must model and teach a reverential fear of God and what He requires from us.

The second principle here is that children are to obey their parents and do what they say, teach and instruct. Obedience is one of the first lessons a child is to be taught by his or her parents. This is because the natural tendency of children is to do what they want and like. Parents must teach them that they need to do some things even if they are not inclined to do them, because it is the right thing to do. This is because they don’t yet have the knowledge and maturity required to make choices in all matters, and they need to be taught by word and example. Above all, a child who obeys his parents is more likely to be inclined as an adult to obey God.

Thirdly, children who are well taught by their parents, cooperate with them and learn and apply their teachings develop a certain charm and appeal that is more attractive than anything they may adorn themselves with outwardly. People are drawn to them not because of how they are dressed, but because of the beauty of their character.

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Luke 2:51-52:  Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them....And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.