God desires his glory to spread throughout time, through generations, and it is mainly through parenting that this happens. It’s the responsibility and privilege of parents to train up the next generation to praise God. Here is where all the verses mentioned in the opening paragraph fit perfectly. Parents are told to train their children (Proverbs 22:6), bring them up in the instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4), and teach them to know and love the Lord their God (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
God in the Bible instructs parents to lead their children to know and love the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). He charges parents to raise up their kids in the “way they should go” (Proverbs 22:6). Fathers are exhorted to discipline and instruct their children in the Lord (Ephesians 6:4), and mothers are encouraged to live in such a way where their children rise up and see them as a God-fearing examples (Proverbs 31:28-31). God even says that a goal of marriage and parenting is “godly offspring” (Malachi 2:15).
Many of us Christians know these biblical texts. But have you ever asked, Why? Why does God instruct parents like this? Why does he desire us to raise our children to know and love the Lord?
On the surface, the answer appears obvious. Of course we know why: This is for our children’s good. There’s little greater than our children knowing and loving their Creator. He commands us to instruct them toward, and we pray and long for, this salvation for our kids.
This is right and good. We love our kids, so we desperately desire their happiness in Christ. But I think there’s an even grander reason we can give for the ultimate reason and goal for our parenting them like this. It’s a biblical reason that places our responsibly and privilege as parents in God’s overarching plan for all of creation. It’s our ultimate purpose as Christian parents.
The Ultimate Purpose of Parents: A Four-Step Argument
We’ll show this ultimate reason, goal, and purpose for Christian parents with a simple four step argument from Scripture. I hope it may help us see the wonderful honor God has bestowed on us as Christian parents.
1. God Is Spreading His Glory Not Only Throughout the World, but Throughout Time
To begin, we first recognize that the ultimate purpose of creation is the glory and praise of God.
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