Understanding Biblical Priorities
Children First Over God – The Bible often addresses the concept of priorities, emphasizing the importance of placing God first in our lives. This directive is rooted in the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). While the idea of prioritizing God is clear, many parents grapple with the balance between devotion to God and their love and responsibility toward their children. Does the Bible explicitly discuss this dynamic? The answer lies in understanding the principles of biblical teaching.
Scriptural Teachings on Loving God and Family
One of the most direct statements about priorities can be found in Matthew 22:37-39, where Jesus declares, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Here, Jesus establishes that love for God takes precedence over all other relationships, including familial ones.
In Luke 14:26, Jesus further illustrates this principle by stating, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” This statement is not a call to literal hatred but a hyperbolic expression emphasizing that our love and commitment to God must surpass all other attachments. In other words, our devotion to God should be so profound that all other relationships, by comparison, appear secondary.
Parental Responsibilities According to the Bible
The Bible acknowledges the vital role of parents in raising their children. Proverbs 22:6 advises, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Additionally, Ephesians 6:4 instructs fathers not to provoke their children to anger but to “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” These verses affirm the importance of parenting as a God-given responsibility. However, fulfilling this responsibility is not meant to supersede one’s relationship with God but to align with it.
Parents are called to model a Christ-centered life for their children. This involves demonstrating what it means to put God first, even above familial obligations. By doing so, they teach their children to value their relationship with God as the foundation of all other relationships.
The Danger of Idolatry in Parenting
One potential pitfall in parenting is the tendency to idolize one’s children. Idolatry occurs when anything or anyone takes the place of God in our lives. While loving and caring for children is a natural and God-ordained duty, elevating them above God can lead to spiritual imbalance. This idolatry may manifest as prioritizing children’s desires or needs to the detriment of one’s spiritual commitments or relationship with God.
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus instructs, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” This verse serves as a reminder that when we prioritize God, He provides for our needs, including those of our children. Trusting God to guide our parenting ensures that we fulfill our roles without compromising our devotion to Him.
Balancing Love for God and Family
Balancing love for God and family requires wisdom and discernment. The Bible does not call parents to neglect their children in favor of spiritual pursuits; rather, it calls for integration. By loving God first, parents can love their children more fully and effectively. This approach aligns with the principle found in 1 John 4:19: “We love because he first loved us.” Recognizing God as the ultimate source of love enables parents to reflect that love in their relationships with their children.
Furthermore, prioritizing God helps parents navigate challenges and make decisions rooted in biblical principles. It equips them to raise their children with a sense of purpose, grounded in faith and eternal values.
Conclusion
The Bible teaches that God should hold the highest place in our hearts and lives, even above our children. This principle is not intended to diminish the importance of parenting but to provide a framework for godly living and raising children. By putting God first, parents model a life of faith and obedience, ultimately benefiting their children by guiding them toward their own relationship with God.
In embracing this biblical perspective, parents can honor God, fulfill their responsibilities, and nurture their children in a way that reflects His love and priorities. Loving God above all is not a contradiction to loving one’s children; rather, it is the foundation for doing so well.
