Several years ago, The Osbournes, a reality television show that experienced surprising popularity, featured drug-addled rocker Ozzy Osbourne, his wife, and his disobedient and disrespectful children. Every obscenity from the children and parents seemed to attract more and more viewers, making it at one point the second most popular show on cable TV. Ozzie and his dysfunctional family were clearly celebrated by fans.
The apostle Paul encouraged children of all ages in the church at Ephesus to celebrate biblical and functional family life. How? By fulfilling their God-honoring and Spirit-empowered responsibilities (Ephesians 5:18). Paul taught that children have the responsibility to obey and honor their parents. If the offspring fulfill their divine roles, three very distinct characteristics will mark their lives.
First, they will recognize and submit to God-ordained authority. Parents are among God’s key representatives of authority on earth, and when children obey them they acknowledge God’s authority over their lives. Second, obedience acknowledges God’s worth and brings pleasure to Him (Colossians 3:20). Finally, it represents God to a godless culture, repelling its temptations.
Like Paul, let’s remind our children that by obeying and honoring parents they play a vital role in family life. We can begin by leveraging every teachable moment during the day to teach our children who God is and what He desires.
When parents fulfill their divine responsibility of teaching their children, and children fulfill their divine role of honoring and obeying their parents, family can reflect “the right thing” to all (Ephesians 6:1).
More:
You must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
Next:
How faithful are you in taking advantage of the teachable moments God gives you with your children? What should you do differently as a parent or child?
ROSHAN on September 22, 2010 at 1:27 am
Dear Brother Williams,
A great thought!!!
You have put it so well the importance of raising our kids in the light of our Father and the Holy Spirit.
lindagma on September 22, 2010 at 6:42 am
And it needs to be early!
esther chang on September 22, 2010 at 11:12 am
this verse speaks to christian families.
but i’m also often asked this question: do we still have to honour and obey our parents who are non-believers/backslided and ask us to do things that may not be right? can we go against them and do the right thing? if we go against them to do the right thing, aren’t we not honouring them with our disobedience?
just throwing in this question for some food for thought. i would love to hear answers for this!
Noe Meo on September 22, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Esther, ask God for wisdom in this.
cfelttheboss on September 22, 2010 at 12:46 pm
More obeying = more witnessing time = more people in heaven. And along the way relationships become more solid.
daisymarygoldr on September 22, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Esther Chang, good question! In Eph 6:1, “in the Lord” refers to those parents who are believers. God does not command children to obey ungodly parents who teach them to lie, steal, cheat, do drugs or worship idols. Under those circumstances, children “ought to obey God rather than men”.
Having said that, personally I know many parents who are unbelievers, yet they teach their children to do things which are morally right. In this case, parents actually look out for the wellbeing of their children—for them to be successful and have a good life. In such cases, children should obey and honor their parents even if they are non-believers. The Biblical principle being taught here is: submission to God ordained authority.
Speaking of backslidden, children must generally obey but are not obliged to follow their parents by not going to church or to quit reading their Bibles. In fact, sometimes it is the children who pray for and lead their lost parents back to the Lord! Hope this helps…
esther chang on September 23, 2010 at 7:49 am
hi daisymarygoldr, thanks for the really comprehensive and helpful answer! =)