"Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them " (Ecclesiastes 12:1). The days of childhood and youth are some of the best we spend on earth (Matthew 11:16-17). The Lord loves children and provides for them in many ways (Exodus 22:22-24; Psalm 27:10: Jeremiah 49:11, Matthew 18:1-10). Jesus said that little children should be given ready access to Him (Matthew 19:13-15).

The Bible says that children and all young people should offer praise to the Lord (Psalm 148:12-13). The Bible also says that children and young people can be examples to all those around them (1 Timothy 4:12). For these things to happen children must be taught, principally by their parents or guardians, to love, honor and have a desire to walk with God (Proverbs 1:8-9, 3:1-3; 22:6; Deuteronomy 4:9,40, 2 Timothy 1:5). In 1 Timothy 5:4, the Bible says, "But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God " As a rule godly children come from godly homes (Joshua 24:15).

The Bible says that children have a responsibility to honor and obey their parents (Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20; Exodus 20:12; Leviticus 19:32; Proverbs 6:20-25; Malachi 1:6; Exodus 21:15,17). The Bible also says that during the last dispensation of time, in which we now live, there will be widespread disobedience of parents by children and young people (2 Timothy 3:1-2; Romans 1:30). The Bible says that children who are rebellious and disobedient to parents are to be punished (Deuteronomy 21:18-21; Proverbs 22:15). If these are not punished and disciplined by their parents then God will be forced to punish them later if they persist in such behavior (Proverbs 30:11,17; Jeremiah 3:25, 32.30).

The finest example of how our childhood and youth can be lived for God is found in Jesus (Luke 2:39-52). Unless we become like Him and be childlike the Bible says that we shall not enter the kingdom of God (Mark 9^-36-37; 10:15).