God’s perspective of children
What’s God’s perspective of children?
The well-known children’s song “Jesus loves the little children” proclaims how “all are precious in His sight.” It should, therefore, come as no surprise to discover that children are present and prominent throughout the Bible, sometimes performing vital and critical roles in the unfolding story of God’s plan to restore us to Him.
Insights from the Bible
To God, children are …
A precious gift.
Children are a blessing and reward from the Lord (Psalm 127:3), for which we should be thankful. They are never mistakes or accidents and should never be treated with contempt (Matthew 18:10).
Unreservedly loved.
Jesus enthusiastically welcomes and embraces children (Matthew 19:13-15). We should never sideline children. God loves children wholeheartedly and unconditionally, and so should we.
Deserving of salvation.
God wants every child to become part of His family through faith in Christ Jesus. There are no exceptions; He doesn’t want a single child to perish (Matthew 18:10-14).
An example.
Little children are helpless and dependent on their parents, which illustrates how people of all ages should be humble and open in their relationships with the Lord (Matthew 18:2-4).
Coworkers.
Christian children are God’s agents with gifts and abilities they can use to serve Him today. The Great Commission is as applicable for a child as an adult (Matthew 28:16-20).
Fellow worshippers.
“Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you; toddlers shout the songs” Psalm 8:2 (MSG). Remarkably, God equips children to praise Him before they learn to speak!
Students of the Word.
God entrusts His Story to children and expects them to learn, obey, and proclaim it to future generations (Deuteronomy 6:1-9).
Defenceless.
Children are powerless and vulnerable and should never be exploited, neglected, despised, or ill-treated (Matthew 18:6-10). God protects and provides for orphans (Psalm 68:5-6, James 1:27).
Eligible for help and healing.
Sick children matter to God (Luke 7:11-17, 8:49-56), and He hears their parents’ prayers for healing and physical wellbeing.
Worthy of His blessing.
Jesus loves to gather children to Himself and bless them (Mark 10:13-16). We should never get between children and Jesus or do anything that would push them away from Him.
It’s hard to get our heads around this, but the love a parent has for a child doesn’t even begin to match God’s love for every child. His love is truly unfathomable. It’s also why children are created for God’s purposes, not ours. God has a divine plan for every child (Jeremiah 1:5) – to give them hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). When we release our children into His hands, He will care for them and work the details of their lives into something good (Romans 8:28).
What are your observations about God’s perspective of children? Please share your insights from the Bible in the comments below.
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Summary
God views children as precious gifts and blessings, deserving of love, protection, and care. They are unreservedly loved by Him and are seen as valuable contributors to His plan, with unique roles to play in His work. Children are also viewed as humble examples of faith, deserving of salvation, and equipped to serve and worship God. Moreover, God calls on adults to protect and nurture children, ensuring they grow up in His love and are prepared to fulfill His purposes for their lives.
© Scripture Union, 2024
4 Responses
Good lesson to teach our children
This article kept my attention from start to finish!
The resources on this site are really helpful, too.
It’s great when the material is presented so engagingly, you want to read more!
Lovely list! I would add children are also serve as a model for entering the kingdom of heaven. If I may, after reading through your article, I am also reminded that parents are called to imitate Jesus, not Solomon. For His way prepares us to, as you so nicely put it: “protect and nurture children, ensuring they grow up in His love and are prepared to fulfill His purposes for their lives.”