“Children are an heritage of the Lord” Rev. Robert J. Smith Pastor Colonial Hills Baptist Church

Psalm 127:3-5 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate

John Wilmot “Before I got married I had six theories about raising children; now, I have six children and no theories.”

Ecclesiastes 4:12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Children reward parents in what they themselves are 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward

Children reward parents in what they themselves are And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. Genesis 33:5 (KJV)

Children reward parents in what they themselves are Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. Isaiah 8:18 (KJV)

Children reward parents in what they themselves are Responsibility – Authenticity And that their children, which have not known anything, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it. Deuteronomy 31:13 (KJV)

Children reward parents in what they become 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Children reward parents in what they become Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. Proverbs 20:11 (KJV)

Children reward parents in what they become Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. Proverbs 23:22 (KJV)

Children reward parents in what they become Responsibility – Training Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

Children reward parents in what they do for them 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Children reward parents in what they do for them The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. Proverbs 10:1 (KJV)

Children reward parents in what they do for them Responsibility – Nurture Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Colossians 3:21 (KJV)

Conclusion Children are a reward … Because of what they are, Because of what they would become, Because of what they do,

Conclusion With every blessing comes a responsibility, a responsibility to… ….be authentic ….to train them. ….and to nurture them Will you accept this blessing, will you accept this responsibility?