Message Through Word
Title: Obedient Children
Bible Verse: Ephesians 6:1-3
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise—
3 "so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
Introduction:
There is difference between obeying and honoring. To obey means to do as one is told; to honor means to respect and love.
Children are to obey while under their parents' care, but the responsibility to honor is for life.
I. Obedience is Right (v.1)
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Modern version of Ephesians 6:1 "Parents ,obey your children, for this will keep them happy and bring peace to the home" — but contrary to God's order in nature.
Being obedient to parents in all things is well-pleasing to God (Colossians 3:20)
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Since the parents brought the child to the world, and since they have more knowledge and wisdom than the child, it is right that the child obey his parents.
Faith in Christ ought to make a better child in the home.
II. Obedience is commanded (v.2a)
2 "Honor your father and mother"
Obeying our parents is our main task when we are young, but honoring them should continue even beyond their death.
One way to honor the parents is to provide in times of financial need or when they are ill and unable to care for themselves.
The best way to honor parents is to pass on their godly values to our children.
Honoring involves all that sons and daughters do with their lives — the way they work and talk, the values they hold, and the morals they practice.
Are you living in a way that brings honor to your parents?
III. Obedience brings blessings (v.2b-3)
—which is the first commandment with a promise—
3 "so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
This is the first commandment with a promised prolonged (Deuteronomy 5:16)
16 "Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
When children obey their parents in the Lord, they will escape a good deal of sin and danger that could threaten or shorten their lives.
"Life is not measured only by the quantity of time; it is also measured by quality of experience"
God enriches the life of the obedient child no matter how long he may live on earth.
Conclusion:
- If our faith in Christ is real, it will usually prove itself at home — in our relationships with those who know us best. Christian parents and Christian children will relate to each other with righteousness and love. Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21)
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.