by Dr. Paul Chappell

"Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons? So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head."

1 Samuel 1:8-11

The foremost cause of rebellion in a child's life is inconsistency.

A reporter for the U.S. News and World Report from 1994 once wrote on our culture's view of parenting:

"Americans are so shaped and stamped by their legacy of individualism that the concepts of community virtue and moral obligation have been discredited In our popular culture, adulthood is too often defined as doing what you want to do, not what you are supposed to do. Making a baby is a sign of status, while caring for one is not. Right and wrong are old-fashioned, politically incorrect concepts. And sin? Forget it...Half of all Americans who marry and have children eventually divorce. For many, marriage is more like a hobby than a commitment, a phase instead of a trust. We are becoming a country of deadbeat dads who don't pay their bills and dead-tired moms who work two jobs to pick up the slack. Even many parents who pay for their children don't pay attention to their children. In so doing, they miss out on some of life's greatest joys: hearing a small giggle or holding a small hand. Probably the best thing that society can do for its toddlers is to make 'parent' an honorable title again. No job is more important, yet no job is more often taken for granted. We teach work skills but not life skills, how to change a carburetor but not a diaper, how to treat a customer but not a kid. Becoming a parent should be...a sign of a lasting relationship, not just a passing infatuation; a source of pride, and not remorse. Only then will our children be safe."

Although the article wasn't written from a Christ-centered viewpoint, it points out many flaws in our cultural view of parenting. Parents in our day exhibit a lack of commitment to each other and to raising their children. But God teaches us that parenting takes great commitment:

Commitment to each other. Before you can hope to successfully raise your children, you must commit to being a husband or wife first and foremost. Your children need parents who love each other, love God, and are committed to following God's will in their marriage. If you've been blessed with a spouse to help you raise your children, thank God, and commit to staying together in the union God brought together.

If you're a single parent, thank the Lord that He blessed you with your child. Never take for granted the life He's allowed you to shape by giving you your child. Your responsibility of parenting may be more difficult than others', but with God's help you can be just as successful at seeing your child love God and grow into a responsible adult. Commit to continually seeking God's help and following His path in your parenting.

Commitment to parenting. When you become a parent, you realize the extra work required to train a child. Your responsibility moves past changing diapers and providing food, but also encompasses teaching your children godly principles, correcting them when they stray, and pointing them toward God's goal for their lives.

Sadly, many parents aren't committed to consistent parenting. The foremost cause of rebellion in a child's life is inconsistency. One parent allows them to get away with things while the other enforces strict rules. One always complains about the other to the child. One parent is apathetic toward teaching the child while the other is always "nagging" the child to do better. The inconsistency in many homes today is producing rebellious, wayward children.

When you become a parent, take time to talk out your method of parenting. Commit to setting rules and consistently enforcing them. Be loving in your dealings with your child, but strong in your commitment to training them.

Are you committed to raising godly children? Yes, such a commitment takes work, but God is trusting you to raise His children by His biblical guidelines. Take some time today or sometime soon to talk with your spouse about your parenting commitment. Communicate with them about how you both will raise your child, and look to the Bible for parenting advice. Like Hannah, ask God for help in raising your children.

To learn more about the ministries of Lancaster Baptist Church and Pastor Chappell, please visit lancasterbaptist.org, paulchappell.com, or follow him on twitter.

Daily Bible Reading
Psalms 74-76 | Romans 9:16-33