1, 2. Why might some Bible principles take on greater meaning for us?
The day of the wedding has arrived. The bride and groom are very elegant and pay careful attention to the biblical advice of the brother who is giving the speech. They already know that advice very well. But from that day on, what they have heard takes on a more important meaning for them, as they will begin to put it into practice as a marriage.
Something similar happens with raising children. A married couple may have heard many talks about raising children. But, when they have their own, things change. All the principles related to that topic take on a new meaning. What a great responsibility you will have as parents! Without a doubt, when circumstances change, our way of seeing biblical principles that we know very well changes. That is why we servants of Jehovah read the Bible “every day”, just as the kings of Israel were supposed to do, and we meditate on it (Deut. 17:19).
3. What will we see in this article?
Parents, you have one of the greatest honors a Christian can have: to help your children come to know Jehovah. But it is not only about passing on information about our God; they should help them to love Jehovah with all their hearts. How can they do it? This article will look at four biblical principles that will help you (2 Tim. 3:16). It will also show the good results some Christian parents have had in following the advice of the Bible.
FOUR USEFUL PRINCIPLES FOR PARENTS
4. What principle can help parents instill love for Jehovah in the hearts of their children? (James 1:5).
First: seek Jehovah's guidance. To help your children love Jehovah, you need wisdom. So ask him (read James 1:5). Jehovah is the best counselor there is. Why? For many reasons. One is that he is the most experienced father in the entire universe (Ps. 36:9). And another is that his wise advice always benefits us (Is. 48:17).
5. (a) What helps does Jehovah's organization give to parents? b) What did you learn about parenting from the Amorim brothers' video?
So that they can help their children to love Jehovah, he gives them abundant spiritual food through his Word and his organization.—Matt. 24:45. For example, you will find excellent advice in the “Help for Families” section, which was published for many years in Awake! and now appears on jw.org. On our website, you will also find videos with interviews and role-plays that will help you apply Jehovah's counsel for raising children.—Prov. 2:4-6. *
6. How does a father feel about the guidance he and his wife receive from Jehovah's organization?
Many parents have given thanks for all the help Jehovah gives them through his organization. Says a father named Joseph: “Raising three children in the truth is not easy at all. My wife and I always ask Jehovah to help us. And often we've felt like an article or video came out just when we needed it. Seeking Jehovah's guidance has saved our lives.” Joseph and his wife have seen that these articles and videos are helping their children to become Jehovah's friends.
7. Why is it important for parents to do their best to set a good example? (Romans 2:21).
Second: lead by example. Children are very observant and tend to copy what their parents do. Sure, no one is perfect (Rom. 3:23). But wise parents do their best to set a good example (read Romans 2:21). Speaking of the children, one parent said: “They are like sponges; they absorb everything.” He added, "When they see that what we do doesn't match what we're trying to teach them, they're going to tell us." So if we want our children to love Jehovah, our love for him must be strong and conspicuous.
8, 9. What did you learn from Andrew and Emma's comments?
Parents can do many things to teach their children to love Jehovah. Consider what Andrew, a baptized 17-year-old, says: “My parents have always taught me that it is very important to pray. Every night, Dad prayed with me even though I had already said my own prayer. Mom and Dad always told us, 'You can pray to Jehovah as many times as you want.' That is why prayer became very important to me. Now I feel comfortable praying to Jehovah and I see him as a Father who loves me.” Parents, always remember that your love for Jehovah can have a profound effect on your children.
Now let's see what Emma says. When her father left the family, he left her mother in debt. Emma recalls: “Many times, Mom was short on money. But she always told us that Jehovah takes care of his servants and gives them what they need. And, by the decisions that she made, I realized that she was convinced of that. Mom led by example. What is the lesson? That even when they have problems, parents can lead by example (Gal. 6:9).
ILLUSTRATION:
A father prays with his little son before going to sleep.
What will parents accomplish if they always seek Jehovah's guidance and set a good example for their children? (See paragraphs 4 and 8).
10. What opportunities could Israelite parents take to converse with their children? (Deuteronomy 6:6, 7).
Third: have the habit of conversing with your children. Jehovah told the Israelite parents that they should tell their children about him every day (read Deuteronomy 6:6, 7). Throughout the day, they had many opportunities to talk with their children and instill in them a love for Jehovah. For example, children could spend hours helping their father plant or harvest crops. The girls could spend a large part of the day helping their mother with household chores, such as sewing or knitting. Doing things together gave them the opportunity to talk about many important issues. For example, they could reflect on Jehovah's goodness and how he cared for the family.
11. What opportunity do Christian parents have to converse with their children?
Today, things are very different. In many countries, parents and children rarely spend time together during the day, because they are at work or school. For this reason, parents should find times to be with their children and talk with them (Eph. 5:15, 16; Philip. 1:10). Family worship gives you the opportunity to do this. Says a young man named Alexander: “Dad always arranges for us to have family worship and he doesn't let anything take away that time together. After the study, we stayed talking”.
12. What should the head of the household remember during family worship?
What can the head of the household do so that the children enjoy family worship? A good idea might be to study the new book Enjoy Life together. If you study this publication together, good conversations are likely to arise. Because you want your children to tell you how they feel and what concerns them, don't use family worship to lecture or scold them. And if they say something that doesn't fit with what the Bible teaches, don't be shocked. Rather, be thankful that they have opened their hearts to you and encourage them to continue to do so. If your children tell you how they feel, it will be easier for you to help them.
13. On what other occasions can parents help their children to draw closer to Jehovah?
Parents, find times during the day to help your children draw closer to Jehovah. You don't have to sit down and study the Bible with them to tell them about our loving God. A mother named Lisa says: “We helped our children get to know Jehovah better through creation. For example, when our dog's antics made them laugh, we reminded them that Jehovah has a good sense of humor and loves life, just like us.”
ILLUSTRATION:
A mother and her two daughters chat outdoors while petting their dog.
How can parents use creation to tell their children about Jehovah's qualities? (See paragraph 13).
14. Why is it important for parents to help their children choose good friends? (Proverbs 13:20).
Fourth: help your children to have good friends. God's Word is clear that friendships influence us for good or for bad (read Proverbs 13:20). Parents, do you know who your children's friends are? Do you know them personally and have you spent time with them? What can you do to help your children make friends with those who love Jehovah? (1 Cor. 15:33). When you do things as a family, invite people who have a good friendship with Jehovah. (Ps. 119:63).
ILLUSTRATION:
Parents, do you know your children's friends? (See paragraph 14). *
15. What can parents do to help their children have good friendships?
Let's see an example. A father named Tony explains what he and his wife have done to help their children develop good friendships: “My wife and I have been inviting brothers and sisters of different ages and cultures for many years. We eat and enjoy family worship together. We think it is a fantastic way to meet people who love Jehovah and serve him with joy. And we have even had circuit overseers, missionaries, and other brothers stay at our homes.We have seen that the experiences, enthusiasm, and self-sacrifice of these brothers have greatly influenced our children and have helped them feel closer to Jehovah.” Parents, do all you can to help your children make good friends.
DON'T LOSE HOPE!
16. What should parents keep in mind if a child decides to leave Jehovah?
What if, despite all your efforts, one of your children says that he no longer wants to serve Jehovah? Do not think that you have failed as parents. Jehovah has given each of us—including his children—freedom of choice, the ability to choose whether or not to serve him. If your child decides to leave Jehovah, do not lose hope that one day he will return. Remember the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-19, 22-24). That young man strayed from the right path, but in the end he came back. Now you may say, “That's just a story. Those things don't happen in real life. The example of a young man named Elie shows that these things do happen.
17. How does Elie's story encourage you?
Speaking of his parents, Elie says, “They did their best to instill in me a love of God and his Word, the Bible. However, in adolescence I became rebellious.” In fact, Elie began to lead a double life and rejected everything his parents did to help him spiritually. He left his house and then strayed far from Jehovah's standards. Despite everything, he sometimes discussed the Bible with a friend. Elie recalls: “The more I talked to my friend about Jehovah, the more I thought of Him. Gradually, the seeds of Bible truth that were buried deep in my heart—and that my parents had worked so hard to plant—began to grow”. In time, Elie came back to the truth.* Can you imagine how happy his parents were for having taught him from an early age to love Jehovah? (2 Tim. 3:14, 15).
18. What do you think of parents who are trying so hard to teach their children to love Jehovah?
Parents, Jehovah has given you the immense honor of raising a new generation of his servants.—Ps. 78:4-6. We know that your work is not easy and that is why we congratulate you wholeheartedly for your hard work and commitment. Keep doing your best to help your children love Jehovah and bring them up according to his discipline and counsel.— Eph. 6:4. If you do, you can be sure that our loving heavenly Father will be very pleased with you.
WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?
Why is it good for new parents to review Bible principles they already know?
Lead by example. Children are very observant and tend to copy what their parents do. Sure, no one is perfect. But wise parents do their best to set a good example.
What four principles will help parents instill a love for Jehovah in their children?
First: seek Jehovah's guidance. Second: lead by example. Third: have the habit of conversing with your children. Fourth: help your children to have good friends.
Why shouldn't you lose hope if one of your children leaves Jehovah?
Do not think that you have failed as parents. Jehovah has given all of us, including his children, the freedom of choice, the ability to choose whether or not we will serve him. If your child decides to leave Jehovah, do not lose hope that one day he will return. Remember the parable of the prodigal son
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