By Dr. Don and Debbi Dunlap
Pastoral Counselor
Parents—your children are never too young to learn a reverent fear of God.
Family Counseling Ministries -
An important part of child discipline is teaching
children at a very young age to fear God. Although young children seek the
approval and warm affirmation of their parents, even a two-year old is old
enough to begin grasping the concept that his or her highest aim in life must
be to please our heavenly Father and win God’s commendation. In the 6th
of a 20-article series, Dr. Don Dunlap explains how parents can achieve this
goal.
Little children are far more concerned with pleasing their
parents than they are with pleasing God. They can see and touch their mothers
and fathers, but God is an abstract Being. As children grow older, however, at
two or three years of age, they should begin to grasp the concept that their
highest goal must be to please God above everyone else.
Parents should begin to remind children often of the truths
that God never slumbers and He takes sin very seriously. Children should have
an abiding sense that God’s eyes are constantly upon them.
We should make it clear to children that they ultimately
answer to God—not us—as their final authority.
Parents must explain to their children that they, as adult
children of God, are also under authority, and that God disciplines them each
time they behave disobediently. That is how God demonstrates His love for us as
our heavenly Father. A person is truly free when he or she submits to God-given
authority.
Children should learn at an early age that their chief
purpose in life is to love and obey God. Therefore, although their wrong
behavior displeases their parents, the more important principle is that it
displeases God, who is perfectly holy. This truth helps young children develop
a healthy, biblical fear of God, and an awareness of His presence.
Begin helping children memorize God’s Word as soon as they can
utter a few syllables.
It is helpful to memorize scripture verses on obedience
together as a family. Many parents find that their children memorize the verses
more readily when they learn hand motions that go along with the verses as
memory-prompters. An excellent verse to begin with is Ephesians 6:1,
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
The writer of Colossians 3:20 reiterates this truth,
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases
the Lord.
When each of the children in our family reaches about two
years of age, he or she is able to quote, “Thou God seest me.”
We should lead each child to begin to grasp the principles of
God’s omniscience (He knows everything) and omnipresence (He is everywhere.)
God knows about every detail that happens in our lives and nothing that we say
or do escapes His watchful eye.
Children should understand that God has charged their parents
with the primary teaching roles in their lives.
Children should understand that their parents are the
God-given authorities in their homes. There should be no question or confusion
as to that fact. It is vitally important for parents to clearly establish their
primary teaching role in their children’s lives—to impart to them instruction,
reproof, correction and training in righteousness.
Dr. Don
Dunlap, a pioneer in the placement of Pastoral Counselors in the offices of
Christian physicians, has conducted over twenty thousand appointments during
his ministerial career. His counseling practice includes adults, children and
families in crisis. Dr. Dunlap is committed to facilitating a network of
telephone counselors. His goal is to provide help for the many people unable to
meet face to face with a competent Bible-based counselor. For a complete
library of Dr. Dunlap’s articles, indexed by topic, go to Family Counseling Ministries. You
may also make an appointment for personal telephone counseling by clicking on Family Counseling Ministries.
Family Counseling Ministries is a Christianity.com
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