>1.Children are a great blessing,
Psalm 127:5 “Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”
Psalm 128:4 “Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.”
2.Children are not always a blessing
1 Kings 1:6 “And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.”
3.The child’s self-will must be broken
Proverbs 29:15 “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”
4.Reprove firmly; mean what you say,
1 Samuel 2:23 “And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.”
1 Samuel 3.13 “For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.”
5.Don’t exasperate the children
Colossians 3.21 “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”
6.Instill a spirit of discipline in the household,
Hebrews 12,
2 Timothy 1.7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
7.Teach them to work
Genesis 24.20 “And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.”
8.Do all you can together as a family
Psalm 127 “1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. 3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”
Acts 2:46 “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.”
9.Father and mother must show deep unity
Psalm 133.1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
10.Teach them to fear God
Psalm 34.11 “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.”
11.Cry for grace
Hebrews 4.16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”