Highly Vulnerable Children
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From the beginning to the end of God’s Word, God speaks about the importance and worth of children. Because children are important to God, children are important to us.

What Does the Bible Say About Children?

To help you connect with God's heart for children, we have compiled this list of Bible verses about children being a blessing in our lives and how God asks us to relate to and regard children.

Bible Verses About Children Being a Blessing

Children have significance in God’s plan and there are numerous Bible verses about children being a blessing. The account of Jesus taking the children in His arms is recorded several times in the Bible. We can follow Jesus’ example by showing a child that he or she has value in our eyes and in the eyes of God.

  • Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. — Matthew 19:13-14
  • Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court. — Psalm 127:3-5

Children are a heritage and a reward. They are a blessing!

Scriptures for Children’s Protection

God’s Word also contains several Scriptures on the importance of protecting children. Jesus calls us to care for children and not send them away as insignificant. Children are valuable to Him! In many cultures around the world, children are often abused, neglected and discarded. They may be sold for profit into the sex industry or sold as slaves to work in horrible conditions.

Jesus has committed children into our arms of protection.

  • See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. — Matthew 18:10
  • A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. — Proverbs 13:22
  • Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. — James 1:27

James describes “true religion” much differently than many people in our culture. He explains it as the act of “look[ing] after orphans and widows.” God has special concern for those most vulnerable, those who fall at the margins of society who are often exploited. God claims to be their protector and James instructs us to follow His example.

Deuteronomy 10:18 says that God “executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.” James reiterates that truth in the verse above and shares that the responsibility to care for widows and orphans is ours as well.

It is a tremendous blessing to love, serve, and protect the most vulnerable in this world and share God’s love with them. He’s the greatest Protector of all.

A young child smiling
A young child smiling
A young boy smiling with his arms folded
Bible Verses About Teaching Children

God instructs us to place value on teaching children to know and love Him.

  • These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. – Deuteronomy 6:6-7
  • People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. — Mark 10:13-16
  • Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. — Proverbs 13:24

Moments of discipline offer the opportunity to teach a child that God disciplines us because He loves us and that, as parents, we do the same for our children.

God wants parents to teach their children about Him—to leave God’s wisdom as an inheritance. God specifically commanded the Israelites to teach their children all He had done for them. He wanted the future generations to have the greatest inheritance—godly wisdom! When parents fail in this crucial assignment, society quickly declines. That’s one reason why there are so many Bible verses about teaching children.

Bible Verses About A Mother’s Love for Her Child

A mother’s love is a beautiful thing to behold. God’s Word often compares a mother’s love for her child to His love for His people. Take Isaiah 66:13 for example, “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” A mother’s love is deep and comforting.

  • A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. — John 16:21
  • She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. — Proverbs 31:25-30
  • Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. – Isaiah 49:15
A young child smiling
A young child smiling
A young child smiling
Children Are a Gift from God

God created the family, and children are a gift from Him. In fact, the Bible says that offspring are a reward from Him! Because of this, God cares about how children are raised and nurtured. Children are a gift from God.

  • People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”— Luke 18:15-17
  • Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. — Proverbs 17:6
  • An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” — Luke 9:46-47 (also Mark 9:35-37)

The Bible is clear that children are to be looked upon as a blessing, not an inconvenience. They are a reward from God! Truly, children are a gift from God.

Inspirational Bible Verses for Kids

One of our favorite inspirational Bible verses for kids is the account of Jesus placing the child on His lap and blessing him.

  • At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” — Matthew 18:1-5

Do you believe you were fashioned in God’s image with immeasurable worth? Each of us—from the youngest to the oldest—were created in His image. These verses teach us that Jesus values the person, not his or her status or age.

Do we see the child eating out of the trash and the multimillionaire businessman as God sees them? Do we push another down to minimal value and lift the other to incredible worth? Or do we see them as God does? God gave His Son for both the poor and the wealthy, the young and the old. All people are uniquely designed to bring Him glory.

Pray to God and ask Him to open your eyes to see children in poverty as He sees them. To help children who urgently need your help, donate to Compassion’s Highly Vulnerable Children fund.

All Bible references on this page are from the New International Version (NIV).

Compassion International is a top children's charity offering many charitable giving opportunities to support children in need.