City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meiers

The Word

“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.” And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

Ephesians 6:1-4 (NKJV)

Reflection

Without a doubt, family can be complicated, Paul gives instructions for both children and parents. To obey or instruct in the Lord is to put God first. When twelve-year-old Jesus stayed at the temple to listen and ask the teachers questions, it wasn’t disobedience, there was miscommunication with Joseph and Mary as to who He was with, and after the ordeal, Luke says Jesus obeyed and honored his earthly parents (Luke 2:41-52). Paul mentions the Fifth Commandment, a promise of blessings by honoring parents. But honor doesn’t mean agreement, especially with ungodly beliefs or actions. To honor parents is to see and treat them with respect. Even if you are grown and living under your own roof and dollar, you can honor your parents without agreeing with them. 

Paul never had children, but he knew respect is a two-way street. Too often adults’ inexplicable anger stems from childhood wounds, they may have been raised in an authoritarian environment or experienced abuse and neglect. Maybe Paul knew hurt children could too easily become angry adults. To break the cycle, Paul instructs parents to discipline not out of temper or annoyance, but love. The TLB version says to raise them with “suggestions and godly advice.” According to John R.W. Stott’s The Message of Ephesians, a part of bringing up children in the Lord is to help develop their full potential. Children are individuals in their own right, and part of a parent’s responsibility is to raise them to be the very best they can be according to their unique personalities.

Application

Mother Teresa said, “What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.” A healthy society begins with a healthy family life. Kids, obey and respect your parents. Their rules aren’t meant to spoil your fun, they’re there for a reason. And your parents were once kids themselves. Parents, lead your children by example, they pay a lot more attention to your actions than your words. Don’t just tell them Jesus is The Way, show them. And don’t forget you were a kid once.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You for my family. Help us to not only get along, but to love each other in You. Teach me to honor my parents and bring up my children in godly instruction. In Your name I pray, amen.