Articles
For Their Sake and Yours
God holds us individually responsible for our behavior. But do you realize that your actions, good or bad, may well affect not only yourself, but your children, grandchildren, and generations yet unborn?
The Lord warned under the Law of Moses that He would “visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon the children’s children to the third and fourth generation” (Exodus 34:8). Clearly, God did not hold children responsible for the sins of their parents. His own law prohibited such: “The fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin” (Deuteronomy 24:16).
The sad fact remains that children frequently imitate their sinful parents; and sinful parents fail to teach their children, by example or word, to walk in the way of the Lord. This pattern may continue for generations! In addition, wicked behavior by parents may bring undeserved suffering upon innocent children. Think of the poverty, disease, and abuse children endure due to their parents’ immorality, illicit drug use, and other ungodly actions.
Multi-billion-dollar government programs provide, at best, a temporary fix for some of the symptoms of these problems. Real solutions come only from God.
We are blessed with opportunities to bring up our own children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We must do this for our own sake and for the sake of our children and future generations. Thank God also for opportunities to help good brethren who are caring for children from dysfunctional homes. Their good work may break the downward cycle and save many souls!
