“Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.”
“Children, obey your parents”
Disobedient children cause much of the strife and division in the home. Some teens become very rebellious. If they cannot accept the authority of their parents, then they need to hit the road! When children leave their parents, then they establish a new home and authority of their own.
Without divine institutions, there is no freedom. There is no freedom without principles. To maintain liberty, we need law. If there is no traffic light, there is no freedom to drive safely. Law protects freedom. Children need to learn respect for authority so that the maximum number of people can operate in freedom. Respect for authority and property are fundamental concepts of life.
The two principles of freedom and authority are not separate. Without the power of divine institutions, there is no freedom. Children mistake the exercise of control by their parents as thwarting their freedom to do things for themselves.
Parents who gossip and malign authority destroy the principle of authority for their children. Even if a President does not follow biblical principles, respect for his office is crucial. This principle carries over in many phases of life, whether it is athletics, education, or any form of administration. Children often learn the principle of disobedience from their parents.
If children do not respect the parent, coach, or teacher’s authority, then one day, the police officer may bring them to the door. The parent has not taught the principle of authority.
Children who attend church need to learn respect for the church’s authority. If the parents gossip and malign those in power, how can they expect their children to do differently?
The first chapter of Romans sets before us the devolution of humanity. One characteristic of this devolution is disobedience to parents,
“…being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents” (Romans 1:29,30).
2 Timothy 3:1,2 warns that a characteristic of the last days is disobedience to parents,
“But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.”
Authority gives the child something to stand upon. It gives him security. The parent cannot yield to the authority of the child. Much control has shifted in our generation to children who do not have the maturity to make sound judgments. That is why so many children are insecure.
Principle:
Disobedience violates divine institutions.
Application:
Some children assume superiority over their parents. They flaunt independence from their parents. Unregulated lives can lead to destructive behavior patterns.
Nowhere does the Bible say, “Obey if the parents comply with the children’s plans.” Children must submit to the parents’ policies if they properly operate under the divine institution of the family.
In every young person’s heart is a spirit of rebellion. We are born that way. We are born with an anarchistic spirit. We want to reign on the throne. “I will do what I please, and the devil takes the hindmost. No one is going to tell me what to do.”
If we do not learn how to submit to authority when we are young, big trouble lies ahead. If we do not obey our parents, we will not follow the law or law enforcement authorities. We will not regard the coach if we do not obey our parents. We will not be team players.
It is natural for us to disobey authority because we want our way. We want to be our own God. There is little respect for authority. Today many people hate almost any form of rule. Much music of our day expresses the value of independence and freedom.
If you want security and order in your life, obey your parents.
