BE A PARENT FIRST

Before your ministry, be a parent first!

"Show me your kids, and I'll tell you what type of leader you are..."

Many church leaders and pastors failed to put their children first. They minister to other young people while ignoring their responsibilities to their own children.

This was the case with Eli. He was a devoted Jewish priest living in the days of the judges and serving God at the tabernacle in Shiloh. He was able to raise Samuel to be a good prophet and priest but failed to discipline his own children. As we continue our Bible Journey in 1 Samuel 3, we can learn that responsible parenting is a serious matter.

1 Samuel 3:13

For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them.

Eli had two sons and they also served in the tabernacle but did not know God (1 Samuel 2:12). They violated the Law by keeping and eating meat from the sacrifices that were not allocated to them. They also had sex with the women who served at the doorway to the tent of meeting (1 Samuel 2:22). The bad behavior of Eli’s sons was apparently widely known (1 Samuel 2:24), and the report came back to Eli. When he found out about these things, he rebuked his sons but failed to make them stop, allowing them to continue to profane the tabernacle (1 Samuel 2:25; 1 Samuel 3:13).

Sometimes, we are like Eli in raising our children. Despite our rebukes, we sometimes give up on stopping them and simply allow them to continue doing things that are contrary to God's will. The story of Eli is not only applicable to church leaders but to all Christian parents. This passage is teaching us to be intentional in teaching and modeling to our children how to love God with all their hearts and with all their souls and with all their strengths (Deut. 6:7-9). Spiritual formation starts at home and parents are the first teachers. As Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in a way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Here are some of my tips for responsible parenting:

1.    Always talk about the greatness and goodness of God to your kids.

2.    Involve your kids in your ministry. Let them learn by observation and participation.

3.    There is a saying,”habang bata pa putulin na ang sungay.” Pag sinabing “No is no!” Kids are good at manipulating the people around them. Don’t allow them to manipulate you with their behavior.

4.    If necessary, apply physical discipline or “Palo.” The Bible teaches physical discipline to correct and train the kids to go in the right direction (Proverbs 29:15).

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).

5.    Physical punishment should always be followed by comforting the kids with the assurance that he/she is loved. Explain why you discipline him/her.

6.    Know their friends and be their friends.

As Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord”

Need someone to talk to? TALK TO ME. Send your message to my email account: crisantamagata@gmail.com or messenger account: Crisanta Santos