1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because 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 have a long life in the land. 4 Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (CSB)
It is clear from even a casual reading and study of the Bible that God had and has a high regard for children. We also find that the early church felt the same way. Perhaps it was because they believed the words of Jesus in Matthew 19:14 and Matthew 18:1-6. The values of the Old Testament admonition on instructing children must also be taken into consideration.
All of us, especially Christians, must value everyone made in God’s image. The church must joyfully celebrate the birth of children. It is parents who have the responsibility to bring up their children in the Lord. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote,
“It is from God that parents receive their children, and it is to God that they in turn ought to lead them.”
Since children are only with the parents for “a limited time,” it’s imperative that we make the most of the time to help mold them and teach them about the Lord.
Parents must always be leading by example, both in the home, and in the church setting. Children need to know and see that their parents love the Lord and His church. They need to see daily examples of this.
Remember, children are really excellent observers. That being true, parents and others must be careful and diligent to live out their faith before them. This is true both in the home and in the assembly of the saints.
We’re going to have 2 more short articles from this passage. The first of these will be titled “Children, Honor and Obey Your Parents in the Lord.” (Eph. 6:1-3) and the second, “Make Disciples of Your Children.” (Eph. 6:4)
Larry Miles is Co-Editor of Word & Work and attends Cherry St. Church of Christ in New Albany, IN.