The community group that I am a part of has been studying Bryan Chapell’s book, Each For The Other for a few months. We are almost to the end of this study and we have entered the section of the book in which Chapell focuses on parenting. This past Sunday’s discussion was very helpful to me. Chapell gives wonderful biblical insight into parenting. The key text for this week’s study was Ephesians 6:-4 (ESV) “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
The main point of application that Chapell brought out for me personally was that children have a responsibility to be obedient to their parents. This is true not simply because we are in charge or “because I said so”. Rather our children are responsible to obedience for two reasons according to the text.
1. Children are to obey because it is the right thing to do.
Children are to obey because it is right in the eyes of the Lord and in accordance of His Word. This is right simply because it is in line with the Holy commandment of the Lord. It is important to communicate this with our children from a young age. It is vital to family discipleship that children understand their family is built on the commands of the Lord instead of culture or the latest wind blowing in parenting strategy. If we communicate this we communicate that we love God and love our children.
2. Children are to obey becuase it is good.
Chapell states: “Not only is it right for our children to obey, it is good for them (Eph. 6:2-3)….In essence, the apostle warns that a disobedient child endangers himself physically and spiritually.” (Chapell 172-173). We must communicate to our children that we have their well being as a priority in our instructions. An example is that I discipline my daughter if she runs towards the street and does not listen to my instruction to STOP. This is becuase I have her well being in mind. This is the reason for God’s commands in Scripture that it may go well with us. We do not set rules to strip our children of having “fun” we set rules to protect them from harm.
May our children know how much we love them and how much we love our God through teaching them of their own responsibility for obedience.
