Every parent wants the best for their children. Not just to have the best of what the society and the world has to offer, but to bring out the best and the good in our children. However, as Christian parents, should this be our goal as well? Do you know what our primary parenting goal is?
Let us look at the Bible’s most popular parents – Mary and Joseph. Have you ever considered it amazing that when our God came to earth, He entrusted Himself, His education and His care to human parents? Apparently, Joseph and Mary must have done a fine job (with God’s grace of course) as Luke recorded it in Chapter 2, vv 40 & 52, “and Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” So, what are their parenting secrets? How did they raise Jesus successfully?
Go back to v 41. “Every year, His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.” The context showed that Mary and Joseph had provided a climate in which spiritual development was the all-important encompassing reality – not just some once a week obligation. Go back further and look at vv 21-24. You will note the repetition of an important phrase – “just as it is written in the Law of the Lord” (vv 22 & 24). Jesus’ earthly parents followed God’s law at every point in their nurture of the Son God had given them. It is important that we as parents should study the Bible because it is filled with all the principles we need in the nurturing of our children.
Mary and Joseph also parented in a balanced manner so that Jesus increased in both wisdom and stature – intellectually, spiritually and physically. Jesus grew up with a godly worldview provided by His parents. We should also teach our children that all truth comes from God, and that God’s truth should be the basis of all our actions in life. Jesus was also trained physically. Even if His parents knew that He is God’s Son, He was not exempted from any menial carpenter’s works. Many parents pressure their children to develop in one or two areas of life but often neglect the others. Example, some parents push their children to excel in the academics but neglect sports skills.
Jesus had "favor with God." This indicates that Jesus had been parented in such a manner that He had a passion to please the Father and accomplish His will. "Favor with people" tells us that Jesus knew how to relate to others. We can see this throughout His ministry. Children flocked to Him. He felt equally at home with the outcasts and the upper castes. This tells us His parents had ensured that He had good social skills.
Our primary parenting goal then should be to assist our children in developing an intimate and loving relationship with our God. We should have them grow in wisdom and in stature, in favor with God and men. So that they may know and understand that our lives are to be lived for His honor, for His purpose, for His glory.
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