Because I Said So!

Because I Said So

Principles for Obeying Your Parents

10/15/03

I. Introduction

PN’s Top Ten Dumb Things Parents Say

10. Because I said so!

9. Clean up that pigsty you call a room!

8. What part of "no" don’t you understand?

7. When I was your age...

6. Money doesn’t grow on trees.

5. This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you!

4. Eat your dinner! There are starving children...

3. You better cut out that crying, or I’ll give you something to cry about!

2. If your brother jumped off a bridge...

1. This is my final warning...

There comes a point in every teenager’s life where mom and dad are no longer cool. If you absolutely MUST go to the mall together, you make sure to keep at least ten feet of distance between you and your parents as you’re walking through the crowded areas. And God forbid any one of your friends see you and ask you if you’re with your parents.

Or what if mom or dad drop you off at school and lean over to give you a peck on the cheek to start off your day? You quickly dodge their “kill me” kiss and dart out the door. Then the ‘rents pick you up at school on the same day with Kansas blaring on their radio singing at the top of their lungs “Carry On My Wayward Son.” You then begin to walk toward the road as if you were going to walk all the way home, intentionally ignoring mom’s solo rock concert.

If you’ve ever been embarrassed by your parents, then you’re only one of oh, about a million teenagers who have said that their parents are less than hip. And while parents may at times ridicule you or humiliate you in front of your friends, they’re the ones who hold the reigns as the authority in your life. They “brought you into this world, and they can take you out.”

But the cold hard truth is that despite a parent’s inability to be cool in the sight of their children, they love us and we, in turn, love them. And despite their inability to let us do what we want, when we want, we have a command and a mission to be obedient no matter what. And so in tonight’s message, we’ll be discovering principles for obeying your parents. And these principles will better your relationship with mom or dad and in turn, better your life at home.

II. Parents Just Don’t Understand?

(Play Song – Parents Just Don’t Understand – Lil’ Romeo)

You may think your parents just don’t understand you or your situation or what’s going on in your life, but the truth is, while they may not be able to relate to your generation, they know what’s best for you and it’s their desire to help you be better.

God knows all about parents. In fact, the Father of all fathers has a plan for the fam. From mom to pop to little bro to little sis, God’s got a plan.

Colossians 3:18-21 “You wives must submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. And you husbands must love your wives and never treat them harshly. You children must always obey your parents, for this is what pleases the Lord. Fathers, don’t aggravate your children. If you do, they will become discouraged and quit trying.”

Here it is. The ideal family situation. The Bible makes it very clear how families are supposed to function. Wives submitting to husbands. Does your mom throw plates and china at your dad in an argument? That’s not ideal. Husbands loving their wives and never treating them harshly. Does your dad pick up the pieces and throw them back? That’s not ideal. And children.

How many of y’all are children? You’re somebody’s child? Here’s your ideal function… ALWAYS obey your parents. I know nobody in here has ever messed up on that one. Always? Remember, that’s the word that doesn’t leave room for exceptions. It’s not always obey your parents, except when they embarrass you in front of your friends. It’s not always obey your parents, except when they ask you to wash the dishes. It’s not always obey your parents, except when they tell you your dog did it again and you have to scoop the poop. You get the point…always means no exceptions. Obey your parents.

Ephesians 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’”

Check that out. Obeying your parents is right. But there’s also a benefit for you. Things are going to be well with you and you get to live longer. Think about that when your mom asks you to scrub the toilet. Hmm, if I scrub this toilet, things are going to be well with me, and I could be adding a year to my life. You never know. Maybe scrubbing toilets is one year and scooping poop is three. So, do you scoop the poop and scrub the toilet? I would if I were you. What would happen if you don’t? You’d get grounded and restrictions and all kinds of stuff right then, plus you’d die a lot younger instead of living twice as long or longer.