A.      Let us begin this lesson by again noticing 1Timothy 4:7-8 – "…Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

                                                             1.      Godliness is the quality of being directed by God, whether it is in spiritual matters or temporal matters.  To be godly altogether, we must be directed by God’s word in all things.

                                                             2.      This passage assures that godliness will bring universal benefits "for the present life and also for the life to come.”  God’s word contains "everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2Pet. 1:3), so let us apply His word in order to take hold of all the advantages that God intends for us to have.

B.      In this lesson, we will consider how the practice of godliness will profit us in the raising of children.

                                                             1.      Worldly people will focus on the fact that children are very expensive.

a.       The Department of Agriculture estimates that it will cost middle-income Americans $291,000 to raise a child from birth through age seventeen.

b.       Because of this expense, certain persons have even advocated the sterilization and abortions for poor people and forced population control.  Organizations such as Planned Parenthood have been founded on these and other immoral principles.

                                                             2.      However, godly people will realize the immeasurable value of children, and godly parents will declare the words of the apostle John, "I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth” (3John 4).

II.      AN INHERITANCE FROM GOD

A.      Some people view children as an inconvenient burden, but they are truly a precious blessing from God.

                                                             1.      There is no doubt that a child requires much effort and expense, but it is inexcusable to view one as nothing more than a workload and an expensive bill.  Barack Obama expressed such an attitude when he said of his daughters, "If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

                                                             2.      Consider Eve’s attitude when she suffered the pain of childbirth but glorified God for her child.

a.       When Eve had sinned, God punished her, saying, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you shall bring forth children…” (Gen. 3:16).

b.       Even so, when Eve bore her first child, she did not consider the child to be a punishment, but instead she said, "I have gotten a man-child with the help of the LORD” (Gen. 4:1).

c.        She glorified God again when she bore Seth, saying, "God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel, for Cain killed him” (Gen. 4:25).

B.      In fact, children are an inheritance given by God to parents.

                                                             1.      Notice Psalm 127:3-5 – "Behold, children are a gift of the LORD; the fruit of the womb is a reward.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.  How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they shall not be ashamed, when they speak with their enemies in the gate.”

a.       The King James translation of this passage uses the word "heritage” instead of gift.  In the original language of the Psalms, this word literally means "inheritance.”

b.       Each and every child that is born is an inheritance from God to the child’s parents.

                                                             2.      Children are in a category with some other tremendously valuable things that are also classified as inheritance from God, such as eternal life (Matt. 19:29), His promises (Heb. 6:12), and the blessings of heaven (1Pet. 1:4).  That is how valuable children are!

III.   HOW SHOULD WE CARE FOR GOD’S INHERITANCE?

A.      Let us be careful lest we squander God’s precious inheritance.

                                                             1.      If we are not careful and deliberate about the way we raise our children, we could be like the prodigal son, who thoughtlessly wasted the inheritance from his father (Luke 15:13).

                                                             2.      In this way, children are no different than any other treasure entrusted to us by God (consider the parable of the talents, Matt. 25:14-30).  We need to be faithful as stewards over all of God’s precious treasures, especially children.  We will be called to account for these precious souls.

B.      If we raise our children according to God’s word, then we gain the advantages that God intends for us and our children through godliness.

                                                             1.      Let us notice Psalm 127:3-5 again and think about the symbols of the arrows and the warrior.  "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.  How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them…”

a.       In this figure, the parent (specifically the father) is the warrior, and in his hands are the arrows, his children.  (Notice that blessings increase with more children.)

b.       The warrior (father) can aim the arrows (children) at any target he chooses.  Therefore, he must choose wisely in order to obtain God’s blessings for himself and his children.

i.         He may choose targets of worldly value – love of wealth, prestige, fame, athletics, etc. – or he may choose spiritual targets for his children – love of God and man, faith, virtue, righteousness, etc.

ii.        Obviously, a good steward of God’s inheritance will choose targets that conform to God’s will.  It is the father’s responsibility to aim his children at the right targets.

                                                             2.      When godly parents aim their children toward godliness, the blessings of God abound for all.

a.       From the Proverbs, notice the advantages of godly children and the disadvantages of ungodly children.

i.         "A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother.” (10:1)

ii.        "A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.” (15:20)

iii.      "He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.” (17:21)

iv.      "A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.” (17:25)

v.       "The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who sires a wise son will be glad in him.  Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her rejoice who gave birth to you.” (23:24-25)

b.       Consider the blessings that came upon Abraham because of his practice of godliness in rearing his children in Genesis 18:19 – "For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”

c.        Notice Isaiah’s words concerning benefits for children who are raised in godliness – "All your sons will be taught of the LORD; and the well-being of your sons will be great” (Isa. 54:13).

C.      Consider some specific guidance from the Scriptures concerning godly parenting.

                                                             1.      Parents must take on the full responsibility for constantly teaching God’s word to their children in the pattern given to Israel (see Deut. 6:4-9).

                                                             2.      Parents must commit their full household to the consistent and continual service of God, saying, "As for me and my house we shall serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15b).

                                                             3.      Parents must embrace the truth of Proverbs 1:7 – "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  All teaching, regardless of subject, must be anchored in the fear of the Lord.

                                                             4.      Both parents must take part in the godly instruction of their children.  Notice Proverbs 1:8-9 – "Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching; indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head and ornaments about your neck.”

                                                             5.      Parents must involve their children in the worship of God from the beginning.  Notice that parents in Israel brought their children into the assemblies from infancy (Deut. 29:11-15; 31:11-13; Josh. 8:33-35; 2Chron. 20:4, 13; Ezra 10:1; Joel 2:15-17).

                                                             6.      Parents must keep their children from the counsel of the wicked, the path of sinners, and the seat of scoffers (Ps. 1:1).  Parents must not surrender their holy children to the dogs, to Caesar, or to the blind teachers who will lead them into ruin (Matt. 7:6; 22:1; Luke 6:39-40).

                                                             7.      Fathers especially must fulfill their responsibilities of training up their children and bringing up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4).

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      This brief lesson is only a glimpse of the truth God’s word reveals on this subject.

                                                             1.      The profit of godliness in children is immeasurable.  It touches on every aspect of life, for godly children become godly adults, and their influence for Christ’s sake will be felt by everyone they meet.

                                                             2.      Consider how many problems of the world could be quickly solved by the arrival of one godly generation.  The rich blessings and the healing of God in this land could be only one generation away.

B.      May all parents turn to God and raise their children in godliness in order to realize their greatest joy (3John 4)