As parents, it’s our responsibility to teach our children lots of things. Sleeping through the night and using the potty. Reciting the alphabet and counting. Tying shoes and riding bikes. The “birds and the bees” and how to drive. To do any of these right takes real effort. You won’t accomplish them in a single conversation. There will be days and weeks of repeated attempts – including a few messy failures. And while there may be people and resources you can lean on for support, there’s no way for a good parent to completely outsource teaching these things. Yet as important as such milestones are, there is something still greater for the Christian parent to instill.
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deut. 6:5). Of all the things that God teaches His people, this commandment – the shema – is foundational. It is to be on our hearts – and if you are a parent, God gives you the responsibility to “teach them diligently to your children”, as well (Deut. 6:7). Yet as is always the case with God, He doesn’t just tell us what to do: He also shows us the right way to do it.
For our children to learn this all-encompassing love of God, you need to talk about it “when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (Deut. 6:7). That’s why first having it in our own hearts is so important: there’s no way this will happen unless we love God with our all. Because teaching that love to our children isn’t something “extra”, another activity competing with homework and ballgames. It is part of the rhythm and fabric of our every day lives. Pray each morning and read Scripture before bed. Play praise songs on the car stereo. Wear t-shirts and use home décor with Bible verses on it (cf. Deut. 6:8-9). Let your children hear you repent, see you worship, and know your love is real.
This is how you build children who love God with their all. God Himself says so. Creative youth ministries and engaging Bible classes can help – but the greatest influence on our children’s love for God will be how real and deep our love for Him is. So parents, what are we teaching them? God’s clear on what it should be. He even spells out how to do it. Hear what God says. Do it by loving Him with your all. Then teach your children to do the same. It is the most important thing they will ever learn from you.
Learn more ways to build your life on Christ through our series Firm Foundation.