What is the greatest gift you can give your children?
What is the greatest gift you can give your children? Do you have children? My husband and I have three children—and parenting is hard. If you have children, you know, it is the hardest job you will ever do.
The Bible doesn't give us a very clear manual on how to be a parent. But it says things like this—in the book of Proverbs:
"He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children, it will be a refuge."
I love these verses. Immediately we think, “fear of the Lord”—what does that mean? I don't want my children to be afraid of anything. But the way this word, fear, is used in the Old Testament is talking more about authority and respect, and seeing God for who he really is—the king, the creator, the Lord of all.
When we see him for who he is, it changes how we see ourselves, it changes how we see the world around us, and it changes how we even see our children.
Our children are going to struggle in this life. We cannot protect them from it. We can't save them from it. We can give them a beautiful education. We can give them great medical care. We can offer them every opportunity, but they will face trials.
And the question that I ask you is this: when your children are faced with trials, where do they turn? Do they know who to turn to? Do they know that there is a king, and he is Lord of all? And if they don't, one day when the trials come, can they return to the refuge of the faith of your family?
Oh my friends, I just want to encourage you. If you're struggling with knowing how to parent or love, or guide your children, the greatest thing you can ever give them is to see God for who he really is—the king and Lord of our lives. It will be a refuge for you and a secure fortress for your children.
When we see him for who he is, it changes how we see ourselves, it changes how we see the world around us, and it changes how we even see our children.
Proverbs 14:26
“Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.”