Children are a heritage from the Lord. (Psalm 127:3) We are instructed to love them well. Jesus even told parents on one occasion that it is natural for parents to give good gifts to their children even though parents have a nature that is not always kind.
When parents give their children love, is all love equal? Are there different qualities of love? We find in 1 Corinthians 13 some characteristics of love and often find ourselves having to “make ourselves” practice these with our children . . .especially those tween and teenage years. Things like patience, gentleness, and not losing our hope are revisited often.
Are there any helpful hints in the Bible which help us to love our children well? Does the Bible say anything about how we can love our children with a wholesome love?
In 1 Timothy 1:5 we find three sources to draw from in order to love our children well.
- Pure Heart
- Good Conscience
- Sincere Faith
Let’s investigate what is at the root of each of these.
Pure heart means you love your children from an inner character that is clean. You have a singular purpose to do the Lord’s will and be unmixed with anything that pollutes your inner influence.
Good conscience means you have a thinking that is intrinsically well-behaved and good in nature. You clearly see things as they really are in every situation.
Sincere faith involves not being a hypocrite or pretending to be something you are not. Instead, you have genuine confidence in God with trusting hope.
Do not love the way the world loves. Let your love for your children be of a pure inner character, right assessment in all things, and genuine confidence in God. When you love your child with these three things at the core, you will love your child well.
If you need help loving your child well – or if you are finding the rules of your home legalistic, your tone harsh and demanding, and you think you can please God with all you do; spend some time alone with God and ask Him to create in you a clean heart and renew a right spirit within you. Ask him to give you a pure heart, good conscience, and a sincere faith. Be in the habit of reading His Word daily and following the instructions provided.
God wants nothing more than seeing you loving your children well. His Word gives you all the details you need to succeed.
Written by: Anne Gurley
