God’s intention is for us to be responsible. You first have to be responsible to produce responsible children. Remember, you are to live by example. In what ways are you showing your children what responsibility is? In raising them according to Biblical principles you cannot ignore teaching them to be responsible. The greatest lessons in life are learnt through personal responsibility.

Taking responsibility is a sign of greatness so you must teach your children to be responsible; responsible for their choices and in carrying out duties.

To begin with, never underestimate their abilities; it helps them feel like part of the family. While my children were growing up, I gave them a domestic work chart that they rotated weekly. The duties included sweeping the floor, dusting stools, and arranging tables. The work was not much and we had faithful hands helping us in the house, but what I was simply doing was teaching them to be responsible.

The great lessons of life are learnt through personal responsibility.

I remember then that I will always tell them, No work no food. If you cannot teach them valuable skills and prepare them for a greater tomorrow how then can you be trusted by God? God said about Abraham:

“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.” Genesis 18:18-19

b. Teach Them To Be Disciplined 

Ephesians Chapter 6, verse 4 says: “Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger (do not exasperate them to resentment), but rear them (tenderly) in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord”. (Amplified)

Your children will become what you are; so be what you want them to be. Cultivating discipline in your children will cause them to understand authority and have due respect for others. Discipline, here means the ability to control one’s behavior and the way one lives.

A child who does not learn discipline at home is more difficult to be disciplined by any other person or authority in the larger society.

To teach our children discipline is to regulate their behavior, to show them what is right and wrong, to teach them the importance of setting God-honoring goals.

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

It is said that Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable, procures success to the weak, and esteem to all. Without discipline an army gets disorganized and ultimately gets defeated.

For your children not to be defeated in life do not substitute discipline for anything. No one bears more responsibility for a child’s discipline than the parent. A child who does not learn discipline at home is more difficult to be disciplined by any other person or authority in the larger society.

C. Teach Them Household Chores

They will one day grow up and leave you. As they do, there are things you can no longer do for them, one of which is cooking.

It is never too early to teach a child, female and male how to cook. It is not an abomination for your son to know how to cook. You can start it by letting them wash dishes for you. Gradually you lead them into assisting you in making the meal.

Perhaps letting them wash and cut vegetables for you, adding seasonings and so on. With time as the interest is building, you can allow them to cook the simplest meals. With constant practice and encouragement from you, they can master the art.

It does not end there however, there is one area you must not neglect their feeding. Teach them the value of eating balanced meals. Naturally, children don’t like to eat certain foods, but with the wisdom of God you can make them eat such because you know their body needs it. There is a saying that, we are what we eat. So carefully watch the kind of food they eat. Don’t give them junk….

This text is an extract from the book “BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES OF PARENTING” written by Mary A. Abioye. 

We invite you to read the following article “EDUCATIONAL VALUES“.