When reading the story of Job, what may be overlooked is the brief commentary on his life before the devil tempted him. In Job 1:5, it states, “So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, ‘It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus Job did regularly.”

Seeking the best for your children

Parents today want the best for their children. They want to make sure they are clothed, fed, and have shelter. Then there is the desire for them to be healthy and to enjoy their youth.

Likewise, Job demonstrated to the Father in Heaven what was important to him. His children’s spiritual well-being was on his mind continually. Notice Job’s concerns centered around what he couldn’t know. Outwardly, they could convey to Job they were okay spiritually, but what was truly in their hearts?

Wanting your children to be Godly

Children, like everyone, can put on a front and pretend to be someone they are not. Please understand it wasn’t so much a lesson about a parent not trusting their kids as it was about a parent’s relationship with his Creator. Job didn’t want his children to do anything against the Father in Heaven. When a parent has this attitude, the children will soon learn what their parent really wants from them — to be Godly.

It wasn’t that Job thought about this once in a while; we are told he did this regularly. Hopefully, this made an impression upon his children, and they didn’t curse God in their hearts. After all, we read in Job 1:18-19, all of his sons and daughters were killed when a great wind came up and caused the house to collapse.

Life is uncertain, and we all need to be prepared for when death comes. For those of us with children, let’s make sure we instill in them the need to be faithful to the Lord. They will see this in the way you live for Him.

Being thankful for Godly fathers

And one final point to make is that if you are blessed with an earthly father who loves the Lord and serves as a model of true Christian faith, then you have much to be thankful for.  Praise the Lord for the father He has given you—someone who can guide you in your spiritual walk. Give thanks if you have seen your father (and your mother) praying for you and bringing your needs before God.

But above all—thank, praise, and glorify God because He is your perfect heavenly Father. He gave His one and only Son—Jesus Christ— to offer Himself as the spotless Lamb of God for the sins of all His children.  And it is through Jesus Christ that He has brought you into a right relationship with Himself—fully, finally, and forever.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”  (1 John 3:1)