Baptist City Blog

Makings of a Godly Child

Judges 13:8

"Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born."

There is a lot that goes into rearing a godly child. Most Christian parents want their children to turn out to serve God. However, what it takes to rear a godly child is often made too complex for parents to follow. The parents of Samson seemed to have the desire of rearing a godly child. Manoah, Samson's father, asked God to "...teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born." He was like most parents who desire to rear their children for God, but he didn't know how to do it. I find in this story what it takes to rear a godly child.

First, it takes spiritual parents. Manoah and his wife knew how to walk with God. It wasn't just one parent who served God, but it was both parents serving God together. You will rarely rear godly children when both parents are not spiritual. Far too often you have one parent who is serious about serving the LORD, and the other parent fights against it. This only creates confusion in the child. It is necessary for both parents to be spiritual if you want your children to be godly. Both parents need to have a daily walk with God. Both parents need to have a desire to serve God. When both parents are on the same page spiritually, then you have a better chance of rearing godly children.

Second, it takes teachable parents. You will notice that Manoah asked God how to rear the child. First, they had the right mindset of wanting to rear the child how God wanted that child to be reared. They realized that the child was not theirs, but God's. As a parent you should want to rear your child how God wants you to rear them. Secondly, you must have a heart that is willing to learn how to rear godly children. Let me ask you, have you ever read any good books on child rearing? No parent has all the answers, but there are some good books written by Christian authors who have reared godly children. You ought to read their books to learn how to be a better parent for your child. Probably the best book I have read on child rearing is Parenting Skills written by Dr. Bob Gray Sr. I think it is important that you read books that are written from authors who are independent, fundamental Baptists.

Third, it takes yielded parents. Manoah and his wife were yielded to God's plan. Likewise, you must be yielded to God's will and lifestyle for your child if you want them to be godly. If you fight God's will for their life, then you will push your child towards the world. If you follow the world's lifestyle in dress and philosophy, then you will not turn out godly children. Parents who are yielded to what God wants for their child and will live according to His lifestyle have a better chance of turning out godly children.

Fourth, it takes yielded children. Please don't miss this! Samson had godly parents who did right, but he wasn't yielded to God's plan. Parents, you can do everything right, but it ultimately comes down to your child having a yielded heart. You can't force this upon them for this is something they must do themselves. Yes, rearing godly children rests a lot upon the parents, but one of the important keys for your child to be godly is for them to have a yielded heart. Every parent should earnestly pray that their child's heart will stay tender towards God. However, every child should not fight their parents and God by thinking they know better, but they should yield their heart and life to do whatever God wants them to do.