Filhos: herança de Deus, criação e valores na Bíblia

Filhos como herança e bênção de Deus

A Bíblia trata os filhos como uma herança do Senhor e uma bênção concedida à família, nunca como um fardo. Eles representam a continuidade da vida e o fruto da generosidade de Deus com o lar.

3 Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD; the fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them; they shall not be put to shame, when they speak with their enemies in the gate.(Psalms 127:3-5)

1 A Song of Ascents. Happy is every one that feareth the LORD, that walketh in His ways. 2 When thou eatest the labour of thy hands, happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, in the innermost parts of thy house; thy children like olive plants, round about thy table. 4 Behold, surely thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.(Psalms 128:1-4)

2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth; the generation of the upright shall be blessed.(Psalms 112:2)

12 We whose sons are as plants grown up in their youth; whose daughters are as corner-pillars carved after the fashion of a palace;(Psalms 144:12)

28 And God blessed them; and God said unto them: 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that creepeth upon the earth.'(Genesis 1:28)

14 Thou shalt be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.(Deuteronomy 7:14)

4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the young of thy flock.(Deuteronomy 28:4)

Ensinar o caminho e transmitir a fé

A formação espiritual e moral de uma criança não acontece por acaso: ela exige presença nas tarefas comuns do dia a dia. A Escritura orienta que os pais conversem sobre os mandamentos de Deus dentro de casa e pelo caminho, ensinando antes pelo exemplo do que pelo discurso.

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart; 7 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.(Deuteronomy 6:6,7)

6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old, he will not depart from it.(Proverbs 22:6)

1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.(Proverbs 4:1)

4 We will not hide from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength, and His wondrous works that He hath done.(Psalms 78:4)

Corrigir com sabedoria e sem exasperar

A disciplina bíblica tem como objetivo proteger a vida e moldar o caráter, não descarregar irritação. A firmeza necessária na correção anda sempre junta com a moderação: os pais são advertidos a não irritar nem desanimar os filhos na criação.

24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.(Proverbs 13:24)

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.(Proverbs 22:15)

13 Withhold not correction from the child; for though thou beat him with the rod, he will not die.(Proverbs 23:13)

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom; but a child left to himself causeth shame to his mother.(Proverbs 29:15)

O acolhimento e a ternura de Jesus pelas crianças

Jesus deu dignidade e tempo aos pequenos em uma época em que eles costumavam ser postos à margem. Ao repreender os discípulos e abençoar os meninos e meninas, Cristo colocou a simplicidade da infância como padrão para entrar no Reino dos Céus.

13 Like as a father hath compassion upon his children, so hath the LORD compassion upon them that fear Him.(Psalms 103:13)

Promessas de cuidado e esperança para as gerações

Deus conhece cada pessoa antes mesmo do nascimento e acompanha o crescimento dos filhos em cada detalhe. A Escritura traz promessas de paz, justiça e renovação que alcançam não apenas o presente, mas as gerações seguintes.

13 For Thou hast made my reins; Thou hast knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks unto Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance, and in Thy book they were all written — even the days that were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.(Psalms 139:13-16)

5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; I have appointed thee a prophet unto the nations.(Jeremiah 1:5)

24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee; 25 The LORD make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.(Numbers 6:24-26)

3 For I will pour water upon the thirsty land, and streams upon the dry ground; I will pour My spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring; 4 And they shall spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses.(Isaiah 44:3,4)

13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.(Isaiah 54:13)

38 and they shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39 and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me for ever; for the good of them, and of their children after them;(Jeremiah 32:38,39)

10 (22-11) Upon Thee I have been cast from my birth; Thou art my God from my mother’s womb.(Psalms 22:10)

25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26 All the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.(Psalms 37:25,26)

28 So God give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fat places of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine. 29 Let peoples serve thee, and nations bow down to thee. Be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee. Cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be every one that blesseth thee.(Genesis 27:28,29)

39 Moreover your little ones, that ye said should be a prey, and your children, that this day have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.(Deuteronomy 1:39)

O papel dos filhos: honra, respeito e gratidão

O mandamento de honrar pai e mãe é o primeiro que traz uma promessa explícita de vida longa e paz. A resposta dos filhos à dedicação dos pais se expressa pela obediência na juventude e pelo amparo prático na velhice.

12 Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.(Exodus 20:12)

1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.(Proverbs 10:1)

6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.(Proverbs 17:6)

7 He that walketh in his integrity as a just man, happy are his children after him.(Proverbs 20:7)