A quick internet search on parenting will yield dozens of articles and studies related to the importance of parent-child bonding and family connections. Parents who take their job seriously seem to understand the significance of building strong and intimate relationships with their kids.

They also might be tempted to wonder why it’s worth putting in all the effort—because it will take effort. Well, the short answer is that God placed your kids in your family for a reason. You are the one He chose to raise your sons and daughters. And He will hold you accountable for that responsibility.

Aside from the divine directive, your family members can experience some great rewards from building biblical parenting relationships. So, if you’re still struggling with the “why” of strengthening bonds with your children, consider these three benefits.

Bonding builds a spiritual legacy

In some ways, biblical parenting relationships are not that much different from any parenting relationships. God created each of us in His image, and we have certain needs as humans. If those needs are met, we thrive. If not, we suffer.

But biblical parenting relationships take on a special significance because eternity hangs in the balance. We don’t just raise our children because they are born into our family. We raise them because they are a gift from God (Psalm 127:3-5) and because we are called by God to point them toward Him (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Proverbs 22:6).

So, as you consider ways to strengthen your bonds with your children, start with leading them to the Savior. Christian families are built on the foundation of Jesus. You have an awesome privilege of leading your kids to Him in a way that will transform their lives forever.

From there, parent-child bonding looks a lot like family discipleship, showing your child why living for Jesus is important to you and why it should be important to them. You’re demonstrating what a genuine relationship with Jesus looks like in real time—and you’re setting the stage for a generational legacy of faith that will resonate long after you’re gone.

Bonding nurtures lifelong relationships

You’ll never stop being your child’s parent. Through sunshine and storms, that relationship will not change. That makes dads incredibly important in our culture. Thankfully, strengthening parent-child bonds pays off with healthier relationships now and in the future. 

In the short-term, your children experience a greater sense of security. By definition, bonding brings people together, so your kids know that they are safe. They know you have their back and will protect them. That’s speaks volumes—no matter how old they are.

In the long term, the bonds you build now open the door to stronger communication as your children mature. My kids are grown; and, to be honest, the conversations I have with them these days are even better than what we shared when they were younger. They still come to me looking for advice, but often we just talk about life. It’s a richer experience, but I think it’s exactly what God wants for biblical parenting relationships.

Healthier parent-child relationships now and in the future is a win-win, and it makes the importance of family bonding worth the effort.

Bonding teaches kids how to “adult” well

Our culture may boast about innovation and enlightenment, but sometimes all that “progress” comes with a good deal of chaos and confusion. It’s like the biblical writer who summarized life in Israel during the days of the judges: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him (Judges 21:25). 

Of course, when everything seems right, nothing seems out of bounds. As Christians, we know that doesn’t work. Building strong biblical parenting relationships with our kids allows us to go beyond raising good kids and focus on nurturing godly adults who own a functioning moral compass. Our kids get a front-row seat in watching how we navigate the spiritual, relational, and emotional obstacles of life. 

Yes, that means they also get a front-row seat to the messes we create. That’s all right. It’s good for them to see that no one is perfect, and it’s good for us to show them how God can use even our failures to make us more like Himself.

By strengthening our bonds with our children, we show them how to stay in the game when it’s easier to quit. And we give them a leg up on “adulting” God’s way.

Now is the time

Research underscores the importance of parent-child bonding. And the encouragement is usually to start young. Bonding relationships are a lot harder to establish and sustain further down the road. As a Christian parent, the key is starting where you are. Today is the day. 

Back in the Old Testament, God talked with His people about the judgment they experienced for their sins. He promised that if they came back to Him, He would bless them again. He would “repay you for the years that the swarming locust ate” ( Joel 2:25).

Regardless of your past mistakes, God can help you make up for lost time. If you will trust Him and follow His leading, you can strengthen the bonds with your children. You can become the dad He has called you to be and connect with your kids in a way that will reach into eternity.