Based on Numbers 3:1-4 (New King James Version)
“Now these are the records of Aaron and Moses when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he consecrated to minister as priests. Nadab and Abihu had died before the Lord when they offered profane fire before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests in the presence of Aaron their father.”
Having children is something beautiful, and of course, if you have them for good reasons. There are people who think that children should be had when two people love each other, and that these children are the fruit of their love, and that's good. There are others who have children with the desire that they be like extensions of themselves, and to be able to give them everything that they could not have, and that is not bad either. There are others who have children so that the children can achieve goals and dreams that they could not achieve, and that within itself is not bad either. And of course, there are people who have children by accident, or by trying to keep a partner, or unfortunately, to get things they want, and these are not very good reasons to have children. In short, children come for different reasons, some are good, and others are not good, but whatever the reason, a great responsibility begins, which starts at the moment of conception (because from there the responsibility begins, not when they leave mother's womb). And like all responsibility, you have to give an account, and the one who will demand an account is none other than God, and from God, no one can escape, as it is written: “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13.
Now, what are the things that parents (speaking of mothers and fathers) owe to their children? Not only before God, but also before society, they owe them essential things like food, clothing, a place to live, and care. These are the physical things that must be there for a person who can't provide for themselves. But also, in conjunction with that, what you owe them the most is not necessarily a university degree or giving them so they can enjoy pleasures or have fun, or even leaving him material goods. What you owe a child the most is instruction, and even more precise, to give them full knowledge of God, and to implant the fear of God in them. That is a must. Anyone might say: “But I don't even know about God. I don't know who he is. How can I give something like this to my child?” And here comes what forms part of all responsibility. You have to seek God to be able to give your child accordingly. You must have your own relationship with God to be able to impart that knowledge to your son or daughter, and that is a responsibility, and like any responsibility, you have to fight for it. Isn't it hard for you to work, to pay bills and debt, to maintain a place to live, to have food to eat, and also have enough to buy clothes and medicine if necessary? Of course. So, you also have to make an effort to seek God, seek to know who God is, and gain that relationship you need, as it is written: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8. So, all this implies action (work). If you seek God, you will find him. If you call on God, He will open up to you. Because, in short, just because you don't know or know about something, it doesn't free you from the responsibility you owe your children. There is no excuse. Just like there is no excuse for not knowing that there is a God, because He is in all things, as the Word also says: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20. So, no one has anywhere to escape from God, nor from their responsibility as a parent before God.
It has been mentioned that parents have a responsibility to let their children know who God is. And you may ask, where does the Bible say that? It says this: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9. This remains in effect to this day. Parents are supposed to teach their children to love the Lord with all their being, and they have to give them this instruction and knowledge always, since they are in the womb, because from there says the Word that God calls every person, from the belly, as it is written: “…From My mother’s womb You have been My God.” Psalm 22:10b. Parents need to repeat to their children as many times as possible and have things around them to remind them of this. This is not a good idea, but rather, a commandment. Because the Word also says: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.” Psalm 127:3. Nothing and no one in this world can take away this responsibility before Almighty God.
What happened then to Aaron's children? This happened: “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.’ ’So Aaron held his peace.” Leviticus 10:1-3. And also: “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Ezekiel 33:7-9. They had been given the instructions they needed, but they did as they saw fit, and they paid dearly for it. And Aaron was not blamed because he told them what had to be, or else Aaron too would have perished with his sons. Parents fulfill their responsibility finally when they do as God commands. Having children is not a game, and a person should not do as things seem to him, but as God commands, if he really wants to do the will of the Father, which is what allows us to have eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ . As the Word also says: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. So then, are you fulfilling your responsibility before God? Lord bless! John