What Does The Bible Say About Children?

In the beginning, God commanded Adam and Eve to be fruitful, increase in number, and fill the whole earth (Genesis 1:28). Even after the fall of man, at the end of the great flood, God commanded Noah and his family to do the same thing—to fill the whole earth with their children (Genesis 9:1). To Abraham, He promised descendants as countless as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore (Genesis 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;). All these accounts meant that God wanted to see lots of children all over the world, and this is His joy. Despite man’s rebellious and sinful state, God still entrusted to us the gift of bearing children, even though we are untrustworthy and unworthy. Indeed, children are God’s precious gift (Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.).

But we also must be mindful that children are a gift that comes with great responsibility. Parents have to not just teach them life skills but, most important of all, bring them up in the training and instructions of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.). God specifically commanded His people to  teach His commandments to children in every way, according to Deuteronomy 6:6-7:

“[6] And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: [7] And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

As children are entrusted by God to us, we ought to be careful in how we raise them. Psalm 127:4 likens raising children to an arrow in the hands of a mighty man. As an arrow is held and aimed properly by a skilled archer, so are children in the hands of their parents. While they are still in our hands, we hold their future as we aim them right—through nurturing them, loving, teaching, and disciplining them in the ways of the Lord. Because when they grow up and start their own lives, we no longer have control over how they will live their lives. Like an arrow is then let go, how we aim them in our hands will determine the kind of future they will have.

Children may be cute and heart-warming, but we have to know that they also have a sinful nature, just like everyone else (Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:). That is why discipline is very important.

“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”

(Proverbs 22:15 KJV)

Discipline may sound harsh for children but it is necessary, for a momentary pain can spare them from a miserable and deadly life of sin (Proverbs 19:18). As we teach them what is right before God, it will guarantee them a life of wisdom as they grow older (Proverbs 22:6). Parents have to realize that discipline is an act of love with lifelong and eternal rewards, and to withhold discipline would be very unloving (Proverbs 13:24). Even though spanking hurts, it won’t kill them, but keeping such discipline from them will eventually destroy them anyway (Proverbs 23:13)

But we also have to be mindful of our actions since children are imitators (Ezekiel 16:44). Parents should lead by example because children can emulate what we say and do. That is why we have to be aware of how Jesus seriously addresses those who become a stumbling block to children.

“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

(Matthew 18:6 KJV)

Children may not be as strong, intelligent, or wise as adults but they have this kind of faith that Jesus highly commends—the kind of faith that does not question but fully trusts without wavering like a child totally trusts his/her mother. Jesus even tells us that unless we change and become like little children, we will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3). Clearly, we don’t just teach children, they also teach us.

Children have been a constant target of satan. A lot of things in this world can easily pollute a child’s mind and heart, eventually destroying them. God has a big heart for the next generation. He values children so much that He wants them to draw near to Him. That is why adults have a great responsibility for protecting them from the world and leading them to Jesus.

“[13] And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. [14] But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. [15] Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. [16] And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.“

(Mark 10:13-16 KJV)