by Arthur W. Pink
by Arthur W. Pink
Philologos Religious Online Books
Philologos.org
by Arthur W. Pink
July, 1941
A WORD TO PARENTS.
Owing to lack of space we could intimate and enforce only one side of the requirement enjoined by the Fifth Commandment: the deplorable conditions now existing on every hand demand that we press the other side also. Under this Commandment are included the responsibilities of parents toward their children and masters toward their servants, as well as those of children and servants unto their superiors. This is quite clear from the opening verses of Ephesians 6 (which contain an exposition of the Fifth Commandment), where the Apostle begins with the duties of children toward their parents and then immediately follows with the duties of parents toward their children, and after instructing servants he at once proceeded to instruct their masters. We shall here confine ourselves to the former.
One of the saddest and most tragic features of our twentieth-century “Civilization” is the awful prevalence of disobedience on the part of children to their parents during the days of childhood, and their lack of reverence and respect when they grow up. This is evidenced in many ways, and is general, alas, even in the families of professing Christians. In his extensive travels during the past thirty years the writer has sojourned in a great many homes: the piety and beauty of some of them remain sacred and fragrant memories: but others of them have left the most painful impressions. Children who are self-willed or spoilt not only bring themselves into perpetual unhappiness, but inflict discomfort upon all who come into contract with them, and auger evil things for the days to come.
In the vast majority of cases the children are not nearly so much to be blamed as the parents. Failure to honour father and mother, wherever it is found, is in large measure due to the parental departure from the Scriptural pattern. Nowadays the father considers he has fulfilled his obligations by providing food and raiment for his children, and by acting occasionally as a species of moral policeman. Too often the mother is content to be a domestic drudge, making herself the slave of her children instead of training them to be useful, performing many a task which her daughters should do, in order to allow them freedom for the frivolities of a giddy set. The consequence has been that the home which ought to be—for its orderliness, its sanctity, and its reign of love—a miniature Heaven on earth, has degenerated into “a filling station for the day and a parking place for the night” as someone has tersely expressed it.
Before outlining the duties of parents toward their children, let it be pointed out that they cannot properly discipline their children unless they have first learned to govern themselves. How can they expect to subdue self-will in their little ones and check the rise of an angry temper, if their own passions are allowed free rein? The character of parents is to a very large degree reproduced in their offspring: “And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years and begat a son in his own likeness after his image” (Gen. 5:3). The parent must himself or herself be in subjection to God if they may lawfully expect obedience from their little ones. This principle is enforced in Scripture again and again: “thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?” (Rom. 2:21). Of the bishop or pastor it is written that he must be, “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity. For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God” (1 Tim. 3:4, 5). And if a man or woman know not how to rule their own spirit (Prov. 25:28), how shall they care for their offspring?
God has entrusted to parents a most solemn charge and yet a most precious privilege. It is not too much to say that in their hands are deposited the hope and blessing, or else the curse and plague, of the next generation. Their families are the nurseries of both Church and State, and according to the cultivating of them now such will be their fruitfulness hereafter. O how prayerfully and carefully should they discharge their trust! Most assuredly God will require an account of the children from their parents' hands, for they are His, and only lent to your care and keeping. The task assigned you is no easy one, especially in these superlatively evil days. Nevertheless, if trustfully and earnestly sought, the grace of God will be found sufficient here as elsewhere. The Scriptures supply us with rules to go by, with promises to lay hold of, and we may add, with fearful warnings lest you treat the matter lightly.
We have space to mention but four of the principal duties devolving on parents. First, to instruct their children. “And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 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” (Deut. 6:6, 7). This work is far too important to allocate unto others: parents, and not Sunday School teachers, are Divinely required to educate their little ones. Nor is this to be an occasional or sporadic thing, but one that is to have constant attention. The glorious character of God, the requirements of His holy Law, the exceeding sinfulness of sin. The wondrous gift of His Son, and the fearful doom which is the certain portion of all who despise and reject Him, are to be brought repeatedly before the minds of the little ones. “They are too young to understand such things” is the Devil's argument to deter you from discharging your duty.
“And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). It is to be noted that the “fathers” are here specifically addressed, and this for two reasons: because they are the head of the family and its government is especially committed to them, and because they are prone to transfer this duty unto their wives. This instruction is to be given by reading to them the Holy Scriptures and enlarging upon those things most agreeable to their age. This should be followed by catechising them. A continued discourse to the young is not nearly so effective as when it is diversified by questions and answers. If they know they will be questioned on what you read, they will listen more closely: the formulating of answers teaches them to think for themselves. Such a method is also found to make the memory more retentive, for answering definite questions fixes more specific ideas in the mind. Observe how often Christ asked His disciples questions.
Second, good instruction is to be accompanied by good example. That teaching which issues only from the lips is not at all likely to sink any deeper than the ears. Children are particularly quick to detect inconsistencies, and despise hypocrisy. It is at this point parents need to be most on their faces before God, daily seeking from Him that grace which they so sorely need and which He alone can supply. What care they need to take lest they say or do anything before their children which would tend to corrupt their minds or be of evil consequence for them to follow. How they need to be constantly on their guard against anything which might render them mean and contemptible in the eyes of those who should respect and revere them! The parent is not only to instruct his children in the ways of holiness, but is himself to walk before them in those ways, and show by his practice and demeanour what a pleasant and profitable thing it is to be regulated by the Divine Law.
In a Christian home the supreme aim should be household piety—the honouring of God at all times—everything else being subordinated thereto. In the matter of family life neither husband nor wife can throw on the other all the responsibility for the religious character of the home. The mother is most certainly required to supplement the efforts of the father, for the children enjoy far more of her company than they do of his. If there is a tendency in fathers to be too strict and severe, mothers are prone to be too lax and lenient, and they need to be much on their guard against anything which would weaken their husbands' authority: when he has forbidden a thing, she must not give her consent to it. It is striking to note that the exhortation of Ephesians 6:4 is preceded by, “be filled with the Spirit” (5:18), while the parallel exhortation in Colossians 3:21 is preceded by “let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly” (v. 16), showing that parents cannot possibly discharge their duties unless they are filled with the Spirit and the Word.
Third, instruction and example is to be enforced by correction and discipline. This means, first of all, the exercise of authority—the proper reign of law. Of the father of the faithful, God said, “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” (Gen. 18:19). Ponder this carefully, Christian fathers. Abraham did more than proffer good advice: he enforced law and order in his household. The rules he administered had for their design the keeping of “the way of the Lord”—that which was right in His sight. And this duty was performed by the Patriarch in order that the blessing of God might rest on his family. No family can be properly brought up without household laws, which include reward and punishment, and these are especially important in early childhood, when as yet moral character is unformed and moral motives are not understood or appreciated.
Rules should be simple, clear, reasonable and inflexible like the Ten Commandments—a few great moral rules, instead of a multitude of petty restrictions. One way of needlessly provoking children to wrath is to hamper them with a thousand trifling restrictions and minute regulations that are capricious and are due to a fastidious temper in the parent. It is of vital importance for the child's future good that he or she should be brought into subjection at an early age: an untrained child means a lawless adult—our prisons are crowded with those who were allowed to have their own way during their minority. The least offense of a child against the rules of the home ought not to pass without due correction, for if it find leniency in one direction or toward one offense, it will expect the same toward others, and then disobedience will become more frequent till the parent has no control save that of brute force.
The teaching of Scripture is crystal clear on this point. “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Prov. 22:15 and cf. 23:13, 14). Therefore has God said, “He that spareth the rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” (Prov. 13:24). And again, “Chasten thy son while there is yet hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying” (Prov. 19:18). Let not a foolish fondness stay you: certainly God loves His children with a much deeper parental affection than you can love yours, yet he tells us, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten” (Rev. 3:19 and cf. Heb. 12:6). “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Prov. 29:15). Such severity must be used in their early years, before age and obstinacy have hardened the child against the fear and smart of correction. Spare the rod, and you spoil the child: use it not on him, and you lay up one for your own back.
It should hardly need pointing out that the above Scriptures are far from inculcating that a reign of terror is to mark the home life. Children can be governed and punished in such a way that they do not lose their respect and affection to their parents. Beware of souring their temper by unreasonable demands, or provoking their wrath by smiting them to vent your own rage. The parent is to punish a disobedient child not because he is angry, but because it is right—because God requires it, and the welfare of the child demands it. Never make a threat which you have no intention of executing, nor a promise you do not mean to perform. Remember that for your children to be well informed is good, but for them to be well controlled is better.
Pay close attention to the unconscious influences of a child's surroundings. Study to make your home attractive: not by introducing carnal and worldly things, but by noble ideals, by inculcating a spirit of unselfishness, by genial and happy fellowship. Separate the little ones from evil associates. Watch carefully the periodicals and books which come into the home, the occasional guests which sit at the table, and the companionships your children form. Parents carelessly let people have free access to their children who undermine their authority, overturn their ideals, and sow seeds of frivolity and iniquity before they are aware. Never let your child spend a night among strangers. So train your girls that they will be useful and helpful members of their generation, and your boys that they will be industrious and self-supporting.
Fourth, the last and most important duty, respecting both the temporal and spiritual good of your children, is fervent supplication to God for them, for without this all the rest will be ineffectual. Means are unavailing unless the Lord blesses them. The Throne of Grace is to be earnestly implored so that your efforts to bring up your children for God may be crowned with success. True, there must be a humble submission to His sovereign will, a bowing before the truth of Election. On the other hand, it is the privilege of faith to lay hold of the Divine promises and to remember that the effectual fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much. Of holy Job it is recorded concerning his sons and daughters that he “rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all” (1:5). A prayerful atmosphere should pervade the home and be breathed by all who share it.—A.W.P.
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