The Greatest-Toughest Job In The World

NOTE: This post is for every living, breathing person in the Christian community. You may not be a parent, but you definitely have a responsibility to help "parent."

There's no pay for this job, but the payoff when it is done right is oh-so-satisfying. Parenting is the privilege of managing an early inheritance from God.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Psalm 127:3-5 ESV

Seeing children as a gift from God, we might think that the responsibility for helping them grow falls solely on the shoulders of their parents. That would be a big, big mistake. James K.A. Smith teaches philosophy at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In an article, Letter to a Young Parent he writes:

One of the terrible lies of our culture--and even the rhetoric of "family values"--is the crippling myth that our homes are self-sufficient incubators for child rearing. If you buy into that myth, you'll be isolated by a constant sense of failure.[1]

Contrary to the popular phrase, "It takes a village," the biblical teaching is that it takes more than that. It takes the church! The role for "training in godliness," falls first on the parents, but ultimately on the entire people of God. We must remember that the family admonitions in Ephesians 5:22-6:4 and Colossians 3:18-21 are written for the entire church--not as "self-help" for the families of the church.

Today, I have included links to five short, but highly valuable articles on aspects of raising children. I hope you will find one that catches your attention and then read it with your entire church family in mind. Just click on the title for the article.

Yes, children are a heritage from the Lord. God wants to use you to help care for and grow his special treasures.