Day 10 – Responsible Parenting

(2 Samuel 13:1-22)

Parental duties

Amnon lusted after his sister so badly that he became sick. Sadly enough, he could not speak to his father, the king, about his problems. He ended up with a twisted and sick counsel from his cousin. David inadvertently put his daughter in a position to be raped by his son.

David could have asked Amnon some questions and may have been able to deal decisively with his madness. Amnon needed help and a straight talk, but his dad did not give him that.

We are not to take responsibility for our kid’s actions, but we must take responsibility for our negligence or abdication of parental duties. 

Responsible parenting costs

David heard what Amnon had done to Tamar and was very angry, but he did nothing. Blaming ourselves for our mistakes and being sorry for ourselves for our mistakes does not replace our responsibility to rise up and act. The whole family waited for Dad to say something or take some action, but he did nothing.

Two years passed, and Absalom took matters into his hand to deal with what his father shied away from dealing with. The result was the death of Amnon and the beginning of a relationship with Absalom, that would eventually destabilize the family and the kingdom.

Your failure to be a responsible parent costs not only your family, but the community and the nation at large.

Confront delicate issues

When you refuse to deal with issues in your personal or family life, you store up or grow bigger troubles that would wreck your life and the lives of those around you. Your unwillingness to confront delicate issues in your life and areas of your influence would cost your authority and influence in your home and areas of your leadership.

David, though a great king failed miserably as a dad, and we must learn lessons from that. You may be great at your job, but God wants to see that greatness in your family life as well.

Responsible parenting is the first and the greatest mark of greatness.

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord“

Ephesians 6:4