Fathers and Mothers

Paul attributes the genuine faith in Timothy to the faith of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5).   It is incredible to see King Hezekiah turning out to be a Godly king, especially knowing what a wicked king his father Ahaz was.  Hezekiah opened the house of the LORD, which his father had shut and restored worship as soon as he came to power.  I believe it must have been because of his mother's  Godly influence.  While the Bible does not say so explicitly in the case of Hezekiah, the Bible says Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother Athaliah advised him to do wickedly ( 2 Chronicles 22:1-3).  Even though King Hezekiah was Godly, he did not influence his son Manasseh positively for Manasseh was wicked.  Kings in those days had many wives, and the children grew up under their mother's influence.  The Bible says that Amon, the son of King Manasseh, did evil in the sight of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done but did not humble himself before the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done!  Amon was so wicked that his servants conspired against him and killed him (2 Chronicles 33: 21-24).  

Due to the inherent sin nature, it is easy to learn the wicked ways rather than the Godly ways!  That is why Godly ways need much training, reinforcement, correction, encouragement, and love.  It is a lot of effort on the parent's side, but in the end, it is worth it! Some parents tell their children that they should do what they say but not what they do!  Children learn more from what we do than from what we tell them.  Remember, whether it is criticizing others, flouting rules while driving, cursing or other serious sins, our children are learning from us!  Godly example is required to bring up a child in Godly ways!  The Bible says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it"(Proverbs 22:6).  

My friend, as mothers and fathers, God has given us a great responsibility in bringing up our children in Godly ways.  If we are the hindrance for the child to grow in Godly ways, the Bible says, it would be better if a millstone is hung around the neck and drowned in the sea ( Matthew 18:6).  May the Lord be our helper!

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