Nnadiebube Journal of Religion, Culture and Society

This study examines Christian Parenting and Social Ethics from a New Testament perspective as a response to the get-rich-quick syndrome among Nigerian youths. The study is motivated by the rising rate of unethical wealth acquisition among youths, reflecting a deeper erosion of moral values in contemporary Nigerian society. The problem addressed is the failure of moral formation within the family and society, leading many young people to embrace materialism and illegitimate means of success. The study adopts a qualitative methodology, using relevant scholarly literature and oral interview reports to provide a balanced analysis. The findings reveal that the get-rich-quick syndrome is driven by factors such as poor parenting, economic pressures, peer influence, and distorted religious teachings. It further establishes that the absence of intentional moral and spiritual upbringing has significantly contributed to the ethical decline among youths. The study concludes that Christian parenting, grounded in New Testament principles of discipline, instruction, love, and role modelling, provides a viable framework for addressing the problem. It also emphasises that social ethics must be reinforced through the combined efforts of the family and the church to achieve lasting moral transformation. Based on these findings, the study recommends reorienting parents toward effective moral training, reforming church teachings on wealth to emphasise ethical responsibility, and fostering collaboration among family, church, and society to promote value reorientation. The study affirms that sustainable solutions to the get-rich-quick syndrome lie in restoring ethical values and redefining success beyond material wealth.

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