Children, responsibilities to God

The responsibilities of children to God as their heavenly Father include honouring and obeying him.

The responsibilities of children to their heavenly Father

To honour and obey him in reverent fear

Psalm 34:11 See also Proverbs 2:5, Proverbs 9:10

Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

To seek wisdom

Proverbs 4:5–7 See also Proverbs 1:1–4, Proverbs 8:32–33, Proverbs 10:1

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you. Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.

To listen and learn

Proverbs 1:8–9 See also Proverbs 4:1–4, Proverbs 23:22

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother. For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.

To praise God

Psalm 8:2 See also Matthew 21:15–16

From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger.

To join in worship

Nehemiah 12:43 See also Joshua 8:35

On that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar.

Relationship to Jesus Christ transcends the child-parent relationship

Luke 18:29–30 parallels Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:29–30

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times more in this age — and in the age to come, eternal life.”