PROTECTING GOD’S HERITAGE IN YOUR CARE
MAY 27, 2026
TEXT: “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones… it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck…” (Matthew 18:6)
On several occasions in the Bible, Jesus Christ was quite intentional about His love and care for children. Children are regarded as the heritage of God, and they hold a very dear position in the sight of God. Jesus cautioned that little ones should not be despised (Matthew 18:10).
There are many stakeholders as far as children’s upbringing is concerned: biological parents, teachers, neighbours, children/teenage teachers in churches/ministries, proprietors, etc. In any of these capacities that you find yourself, know that you are in custody of God’s heritage, and you will be held responsible for any inaction or negligence on your part towards their development.
KEY FACTS
- Parents should avoid unnecessary modernization in the upbringing of their children. No matter the geographical location you find yourself in, have it at the back of your mind that societal parenting standards may change based on location, but God’s standard does not change in terms of not sparing the rod in ways that will reshape their lives and guide them on the right track.
- Monitor your children’s exposure to ungodly content online. Many young ones today are trapped in the devil’s snare just because their parents are lackadaisical towards their children. A lot of children look innocent on the surface but are seriously battling different problems of addiction — addiction to sex, masturbation, pornography, alcohol, etc. Parents should try to be more emotionally close to their children and try to ask them important questions in a bid to ascertain their overall wellbeing. Don’t assume too certainly that they would be fine. They may not! If Eli had been more attached to his children, he would perhaps have been able to play a bigger role in any potential transformation.
- Children are naive. They can be innocently swayed to believe anything at all. Monitor the kind of friends that visit, speak to, or play with them. Monitor the kind of friends they are exposed to both online and offline (1 Corinthians 15:33; Proverbs 4:23).
- Learn to correct your children in love. Resist the urge to curse them whenever they offend you. Instead, sit them down and tell them what they have done wrongly and why they need to change their ways. Teach them to resist sin and expose them to the truth early in life.
- Don’t be hasty to fight your child’s teacher or instructor for rebuking your child. Your child may surely exhibit some negative vices in school while acting as an angel at home. Never be too hasty to conclude on your child’s innocence. Rather, find calm ways of ameliorating the situation without creating enmity between you and the teacher.
- Seek God’s help in raising your child. That you are a prophet, a teacher, an evangelist, etc., does not mean your children will automatically be good. Many people walked righteously with God in the Bible but failed over their children. Samuel was a prophet but failed woefully over Joel and Abijah. David was a king and a singing evangelist, even described as a man after God’s own heart, but he failed over his children. Amnon committed lust and eventual rape. Absalom committed murder and what can be tagged treason in today’s modern world. Adonijah committed treason as well, and Solomon, who even seemed to have had a glorious start, eventually fell out with God due to his uncontrollable polygamous lifestyle. Hezekiah was a king chosen and known for his walk with God, but he failed woefully over Manasseh, his son. Eli served for 40 years as priest in Shiloh, yet he failed woefully over his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. So parenting is personal between you and God. Pray for divine grace to raise the seeds He has given to you.
All in all, these children are like flowers that need to be well tended in order to blossom abundantly. God will not take it easy with anyone who deliberately misleads children due to His unique attachment to them as His heritage.
SEARCHLIGHT: Never do anything that is meant to inhibit the growth and general wellbeing of children, either consciously or unconsciously.
PRAYER: OH you, my children, hear the word of God. You shall be shining lights in your generation, in Jesus’ mighty name.
BIBLE READING: Nehemiah 1–3, Hebrews 8
PASTOR MICHAEL OMOLE
