Monday, 22 May 2017
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Colossians 3:20
This verse is a shortened form of Ephesians 6:1-3 –
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
The necessity of children to be obedient to their parents is found throughout Scripture, both implicitly and explicitly. Solomon admonished it to the youth of his audience when he wrote –
“My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not forsake the law of your mother;
9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,
And chains about your neck.” Proverbs 1:8, 9
Having stated this, Paul is speaking of proper things which would be pleasing to the Lord. The words “all things” cannot mean things which are contrary to what the Lord would ordain for people to do. In such instances, disobedience to the parents’ directives would be the proper course of action. Even as children within a household, obedience to God’s word must come first.
However, when the instructions of one’s parents is in line with Scripture, or at least neutral in regards to Scripture, then obedience to them is right and proper. As Paul notes, “for this is well pleasing to the Lord.” Christ was obedient to His Father, and He has set the example for all others to follow. There is a set hierarchy which has been ordained by God, and to which we are expected to adhere. In doing so, we will be pleasing to the Lord.
Life application: Again, Paul has set a standard for conduct within the family which is expected to be adhered to. Concerning children, how obvious it is that they should, in fact, be obedient to their parents. But this is not just a responsibility which is laid upon them. Rather, when they are disobedient, it is time for the parents to enforce the rules of the house. It is something that seems almost foreign to modern families though. But just because it is unpopular to discipline children, it does not mean that it is wrong. As Solomon says –
“Do not withhold correction from a child,
For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
14 You shall beat him with a rod,
And deliver his soul from hell.” Proverbs 23:13, 14
Are you going to trust a TV show or the word of God in how to raise your children?
Heavenly Father, in this world where discipline supposedly seems like an unjust thing, help us to be obedient to Your word and not to the societal norms which have crept up around us. Without correction, there is no proper instruction. No wonder many schools have become riotous dens filled with unreasoning animals, and our prisons are chock-full of violent criminals. We have departed from Your word, and we are reaping what we have sown. Please turn our hearts and minds to a right application of Your word, and this unholy tide will be stopped. If so law and order can rule once again. Amen.