As parents, we all want our children to become successful and great someday. To make these things happen, parents have a big role to play in the lives of their children.
Before we discuss the purpose of parenting, let me define first the meaning of the word purpose.
What is Purpose?
Purpose is the original intent for the creation of a thing. It is the reason why a thing exists. It is also the motivation that causes the creation of a product.
Purpose simply means, why? Every time you ask, ‘why?’, you are asking for a purpose of a thing―e.g. why this laptop computer was made?, why this chair was made? Nothing in life is without a purpose, but not every purpose is known.
So, why am I here? That is a question of purpose that each of us must answer if we want to enjoy a meaningful, effective and fulfilling life.
To discover purpose, never ask the creation, ask the creator. Creatures can never know purpose apart from the creator. That is why, whenever purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable. If the parent does not know the purpose of parenting, it will result to child abuse. That is why, we need to study parenting.
What is Parenting?
Parenting means to love, nurture, care for, and train children to become mature, happy, successful, productive, and well adjusted adults.
As parents, we are here to love, train, discipline and deploy our children. And these are our responsibilities. We must know how to respond to these responsibilities. Otherwise, we will not become effective and successful parents. That’s why we need to know first in this article the purpose of parenting.
The Purpose of Parenting
Now, we already understand the meaning of purpose and parenting. So, what is the purpose of parenting? Remember this, no psychologist, psychiatrist or counselor knows why you were created. Your mother carried you for nine months and she did not even know your purpose. So, never ask the creation, ask the creator. Purpose is only found in the mind of the creator. In other words, no one knows the product like the manufacturer―e.g. no one knows Nokia cell phone like Nokia Corporation, no one knows Toyota car like Toyota Corporation.
Since most of us accept and believe God as our creator, we must consult Him for our purpose. We know God as the author of life, and the designer of marriage and family. Hence, He knew the purpose of parenting. God created us in His image and likeness, but His image―His nature and character in us was marred when our first parents (Adam and Eve) sinned against Him. They rebelled and declared independence from God. In other words, the relationship between God and man was cut off and broken by their disobedience. This broken relationship can be restored only through His Son Jesus Christ when we change our minds and accept Him as our King, Lord and Savior.
There is a lot of information on parenting in the world today. You can search and find them in different websites in the internet. Some of it is good, but much of it is not because it is based on philosophies and world views that are contrary to God’s ways and thoughts.
For wise counsel on raising children, we need to refer to the Word of God because He is our creator. Every product has a manual. The same thing with us, we have manual―the Bible.
King Solomon―one of the wisest and richest men who ever lived, said, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Solomon did not say, a way but the way―meaning there is only one way our children should go which is through His Word―a lamp to their feet and a light to their path.
Therefore, our job as parents is to teach our children to think right, talk right, and live right based on His Word.
In short, the purpose of parenting is to raise righteous and godly children for God.
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