THE BIBLICAL FAMILY: The Responsibilities of Children
Ephesians 6:1-3 & Colossians 3:20
INTRODUCTION
A. You know, God pretty well has this old world figured out.
1. The Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
2. If we were to continue to read through the remainder of Genesis 1 we would find that God created the planets, the stars, the dry ground, the plants and animals and everything else that goes into making the world as we know it.
3. Now, when God made all of this stuff, He didn’t just let it go and do whatever it wanted to. He didn’t just create the world and then let it be.
4. No, God established some rules, some guidelines, some laws of nature to make things work.
a. For instance, it’s God who invented this whole gravity thing. Can you imagine what the world would be like without gravity?
- Can you imagine what it would be like trying to drink without gravity? You go to take a drink and your milk goes up your nose.
b. And tell me, what would we do without evaporation and condensation?
- Man, you think the drought we’ve been experiencing in some places is tough, it’s nothing compared to what the place would be like if God hadn’t figured out all of that watering the earth stuff.
5. No, God knew how the place was supposed to work so He made laws to make the place operate like He wanted it to.
B. Well, the world is not the only thing God created.
1. He also created marriage, the family and the home.
2. Just as God created the world and then put laws into place to make it all operate correctly, He also put in place certain laws for how people in a family are to function.
3. Over the past couple of weeks we have examined what God said about marriage and parenting.
C. This morning I want to look at what God says about children – how they should act within the context of the family as a whole.
1. Open your Bibles this morning and turn with me please to Eph 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. [2] Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) [3] That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
2. In these 3 verses, we find the basic responsibilities of children to their parents and we will look at them right after we have
PRAYER
Now, we could look at many different things that go into being a good child, but it all boils down to the two commands given in these verses; the two commands that will allow us to deal with our parents regardless of our age in a godly manner. Number one, God says to children:
I. OBEY YOUR PARENTS: Ephes. 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
A. Now, before we progress any further, let’s think for a moment about who we are talking about
1. When we say Children - The word translated here as “children” does not mean infant. There are other words which mean the same as infant.
a. No, the word “children” here is a general word for off spring.
b. It’s just talking about children in general, no age is in view.
c. From birth to young people, as long as they are under parental care and control, you are their child - Children equals off spring.
2. Equally, we need to think about what the word “parents” means.
- Parents refers to birth parents, it means adopted parents, it means legal guardians
3. One final definition, and that is for the word “obey.”
a. To obey means not only to “listen to” your parents, but it means to “listen to as realizing you are under their authority and then follow their directions, without challenge, excuse or delay.”
b. In other words, children, if you are at home, under the watch care of parents, step parents, adopted parents, guardians or whatever, you are to do what your parents tell you to do. You are to be obedient.
B. You are to obey in all things, Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
1. If you are home, under their authority; if they are responsible for you, providing for you, and watching over you, you are to obey them in all things.
2. And biblical obedience means doing what you are told to do without challenge, excuse or delay.
3. That includes the way you dress, the places you go, the people you hang out with, the things you watch on TV.
a. It does not matter if they are so old-fashioned they think the pilgrims were hippies.
b. It does not matter if they watched the original “I Love Lucy Shows” before they were reruns.
c. It does not matter if they are old and things have changed since they were in school.
d. Though many things have changed one thing has not: God’s word!
e. The Bible says, “In all things,” you are to obey your parents.
C. So we need to remember God set the rules, not your parents, and here is why you are called upon to obey your parents.
1. It Pleases God – Col. 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
a. In the Bible, children are told by God to obey their parents.
b. Whenever we are obedient, whenever we do what God tells us to do, it pleases God.
c. Our example is Jesus:
1) God wanted His Son Jesus Christ to set the way, to set the trend for the new church.
2) So, Jesus went down to where His cousin John the Baptist was preaching and baptizing folks, and He was baptized.
- Did Jesus need to be baptized in order to picture the new life? No! He was living it.
- Did Jesus need to be baptized in order to wash away His sins? No! Jesus had never sinned and the Bible says that water does not wash away sin anyway.
- Did Jesus get baptized in order to become a member of the church? No! He is the head of the church!
3) So why was Jesus Baptized? Because God, His Father, wanted Him to be. And when Jesus did what His Dad wanted, God spoke from heaven and said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
d. Jesus did what His Father wanted, and God was pleased.
e. Let me tell you boys and girls, God has a plan, a blue print for the family as well. He says, Children this is your responsibility within the family. Obey your parents. And when you do that, God is pleased.
2. Second, you should obey your parents because it is commanded.
a. Eph. 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord:….
b. In this verse, and other places in the Bible, God commands children to obey their parents.
c. Now, you may be thinking Disobeying your parents isn’t that big a deal, it isn’t that big of a sin – after all everyone does it.
d. I want you to know that all sin is serious and God doesn’t play about any of them.
e. Turn with me please to 2 Tim. 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
1) Did you see one of the groups of sinners God includes in this list of ungodly people?
2) He includes those who are disobedient to parents.
3) My friend, disobeying your parents is a sin, and it is a biggie. God doesn’t mess around with that stuff.
- In the O.T. disobedient and rebellious children were stoned to death – you should now have a different perspective on the magnitude of the sin of disobedience.
f. You should obey your parents because it pleases God. You should obey your parents, because it is commanded.
3. Thirdly, you should obey your parents because it is rewarding.
a. Proverbs 1:8 & 9 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching; indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head, and ornaments about your neck.
b. Ephesians 6:3, as well, tells us that Obeying your parents is rewarding.
c. In his book Shepherding a Child’s Heart, Tedd Tripp spoke about a Circle of Blessing” (Show Circle)
1) When children obey their parents God states (Eph 6:3) that things will go well for them and they will live longer.
2) God promises to bless those who obey their parents.
a) God will bless you with a better home and happier family.
b) But also, believe it or not, your parents have lived a while longer than you. They have picked up a few things along the way. So you are rewarded when you obey your parents, because often, you can learn from their mistakes and keep from repeating some that they’ve made.
Obey your parents because it is pleasing to God, because it is commanded, and because it is rewarding. But God gives a second command to children as well. He says, Children,
II. HONOR YOUR PARENTS - Ephes. 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) Three Ways to Honor Your Parents
A. Speech, Proverbs 31:28 Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her . . . (notice fathers, your children will probably follow your lead)
1. Listen, no parent is perfect. None.
a. Those of you who aren’t parents will discover that when you become a parent yourself.
b. But, that doesn’t mean your parents don’t have good points. Find the good things and point those out.
c. Find the good things, and thank them for those.
2. As a child (regardless of age) you have no biblical right to give your parents commands nor to speak to them as your peers.
- They are your parents, God’s ordained authority in your life.
3. Honor them when you talk to them face to face and when you talk of them in the presence of your friends.
- Honor them with what you say to them and also with what you say about them. Honor your parents with your speech.
B. Second, honor them with your money. Matthew 15:3-6
1. 1 Tim. 5:16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them,…
2. It saddens me when I see people who will indulge their every desire, but who leave their parents dressing like rag dolls and living in unrepaired shanties.
3. Honor your parents with your finances. Help them out when they are in need. Jesus thought it was important.
C. Actions - Proverbs 27:11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me. & Proverbs 15:20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
1. We hurt our own cause when we dishonor our parents:
a. First and foremost, because we displease the Lord
b. Secondly because we can be assured our sins will find us out and we will reap what we have sown (Gal 6:7)
2. It is one thing to have the displeasure of mom and dad, its quite another to incur the wrath of God.
3. Believe me when I say, It is easier and better to honor our parents!
CONCLUSION: As we close
A. Children & Youth look up here and listen to these words again, found in Prov 1:1-9 as found in the NIV: The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young--let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance--for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
B. Obey your parents for this is right – you will reap the blessings from God and Parents
C. When you disobey your parents everyone loses - When you obey your parents everyone wins
D. GODLY CHILDREN HONOR & OBEY THEIR PARENTS!
