Hugh Priest Eli’s life and family ended in tragedy because he neglected his God-given duty and assignment to raise his children in the way of the Lord. If you do not want the things that happened to Eli to happen to you and your family, as a father, it bears repeating that you need to acquire the knowledge of the word of God on how to raise your children.
Also, you need to have the knowledge of the time we live in; that is today’s world. The world has become seriously technologically advanced much more than it was a few decades back.
Even little toddlers of today are exposed to a lot of garbage from the Internet, apart from television and destructive music and fashion. As parents, we need to brace up to our responsibilities like never before.
When your children are young, teach them the ways of God. When they are teenagers, teach them. As adults reach them. When they have left your home and are even married, the teaching still continues.
Parenting never ends. It is forever. I remember when my mother-in-law lived with us at an old age. (She has gone home to be with the Lord at age 90). My wife was already in her 50s then. Yet my mother-in-law never stopped teaching and correcting my wife as she deemed necessary. As a child of God and a minister, my wife is a stickler for decent dressing. Yet, her mum on some rare occasions did not like her dress and my wife had to comply and immediately discard such dresses. She would thank her and do as she instructed. My wife’s mother would mother wife in our native dialect that, “a mother doesn’t keep quiet.” She is a judge, an advocate and solicitor; a teacher, a police, a friend and a confidant, among others. You just cannot stop teaching and training your children in righteousness, until the day you draw your last breath.
My wife, Carol has imbibed this teaching virtue apparently from her mother. She just kept correcting in love, not only our children, but also all that are within our sphere of contact and influence. You have to cultivate this attitude to always fight for the kingdom of God, for righteousness to reign wherever you are.
Do not support your children when they are doing evil. God will hold you and your lineage responsible if you do.
In our day, a lot of gospel teachings are tending more towards the grace of God, as a loving Father. But that is not all there is about God. There is the severe side of God. He hates sin and unrighteousness. Love you!
