By Alexander Rico
Last week, we looked over Paul’s instruction to both godly wives and husbands on how to form a long-lasting relationship; now, we see his instructions on how we can raise a child of God. In our text, there is a word that stands out to us, this word is, “obey”. It is a word that we have heard many times used throughout the Old and New Testaments. According to the Berlitz Dictionary of American English, to obey is to, “do what is asked or ordered, to comply with.” In the Greek that word is “hupakouo” (hoop-ak-o-ay), which means to listen attentively, and to heed or conform to, a form of submission. In knowing this, we can see that there is a two fold act that needs to occur when obeying. First we see in this passage that, children are asked to listen; then, act or do what is asked. However, we see here again in this passage a condition. As with the wife, a child does not have to obey their parent’s when it goes against the Lord. Sometimes we see parents attempting to fight against a child’s faith in God, trying to make them either doubt their salvation or loose their faith and fall into the ways of the world. Jesus said that it would be better for a person to tie a millstone around their neck and cast into the sea, then to offend a child that believes in Him, we have all seen a time when parent’s have actually forbidden their children to attend a church service, all because they don’t go; Second condition, is if the parents are forcing their children to engage in unlawful and sinful acts. We know from reports that Child pornography is a growing fade amongst adults, this according to the The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline which logged a 39% increase in reports of possession, creation, or distribution of child pornography in 2004, the seventh consecutive year child-pornography incidents have trended upward. In 2004, the federal courts dismissed a proposed 2002 law that would have prohibited child pornography due to the fact that many stated it violated basic freedoms stated in the bill of rights; however, this act infringes on the children’s rights. Aside from child pornography, we also see parents asking their children to lie for them, or steal things from other people for them. Horrible acts that leave the children molded and scarred into a life apart from God.
Paul then affirms that, “this is right,” so many times we see that children do not listen to their parents, they run ramped lives. A few months back, there was this show called, “Brat Camp” in which showed the life of several delinquent teenagers who were placed out into the wilderness to camp until they changed their ways and saw their need for obedience to their parents. Under the Old Testament law these delinquents would have had a severe punishment dealt to them. Deuteronomy tells us, “if a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them then his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city. And they shall say to the elders of the city, ‘this son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear.” (Deuteronomy 21:18-20)
Verse 2 gives us a half quote from one of the first mentioned commandments in the book of Exodus. “Honor your father and mother,” (Deuteronomy 5:16) though the promise mentioned in the Old Testament verse, “to inhabit the land of Canaan” is altered to reflect longevity. We know this to be true because in today’s society, the leading cause of all deaths in youth is a lack of following rules. According to a list of the top five leading reasons for youth deaths in the United States car related accidents (51.8%) are top, and murder coming in second (21.3%); A lack of following and obeying that which was spoken by an adult and parent; thus, costing them their lives, and the lives of others. How many times have they suffered for the choices they have made because their parents allow them to simply to do things their own way; eating the things they want, doing the things that they want to do. If they even make it to their later years, they suffer greatly because of their bad choices. On Wednesday nights at the class I teach, the secondary teacher and I asked our class what type of food they wanted at their party. Just curious, we gave them two unhealthy choices and one healthy choice; however, the unhealthy easily won. Why? Because they don’t really know what’s best for them as we do; they want the stuff that tastes good over that which is good for them. I read recently:
And God populated the earth with broccoli and cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow vegetable of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives. And Satan created McDonald’s. And McDonald’s brought forth the 99-cent double-cheeseburger. And Satan said to Man, “You want fries with that?” And Man said, “Super size them.” And Man gained pounds. And God created the healthful yogurt, that woman might keep her figure that man found so fair. And Satan brought forth chocolate. And woman gained pounds. And God said, “Try my crispy fresh salad.” And Satan brought forth ice cream. And woman gained pounds. And God said, “I have sent your heart healthy vegetables and olive oil with which to cook them.” And Satan brought forth chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained pounds and his bad cholesterol went through the roof. And God brought forth running shoes and Man resolved to lose those extra pounds. And Satan brought forth cable TV with remote control so Man would not have to toil to change channels between ESPN and ESPN2. And Man gained pounds. And God said, “You’re running up the score, Devil.” And God brought forth the potato, a vegetable naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fat fried them. And he created sour cream dip also. And Man clutched his remote control and ate the potato chips swaddled in cholesterol. And Satan saw and said, “It is good.” And Man went into cardiac arrest. And God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery. And Satan created HMOs. Though God has created many great things to keep us alive, we tend to go for the things that kill us; and, we see this through the things the children go for in the cupboards and when at a restaurant; bad things (i.e.: junk food, etc.)
Paul then moves into telling parent’s how to raise Godly children, He states, “Father’s do not provoke your children to wrath.” However, what does he mean by this? Well, it can best be described in the cases to which parents provoke their children to the point of frustration after many times of being annoyed or irritated. Such as when a parent holds out a ball for the child to grab to; then, removes it just as fast only to see the child become frustrated by them removing the ball early. You also can provoke a child to anger through unjust or unexplained punishments; getting in trouble and not truly knowing what you had done wrong. There is this book out entitled, “Children, Fun, or Frenzy”, advocating even waking your child up at night simply to spank them if you found out that they had done something wrong. I personally do not believe in punishing a child when you are emotionally upset, for you are more apt to overdue the punishment. You can also provoke your children to wrath by making unreasonable demands upon them. I watch children’s sports and sometimes have the opportunities to speak with parents of children I teach in the Children’s ministry. I hear them state, “Little Billy or Suzy I want you to be a doctor or win this next game!” They place this immense amount of stress upon a 5 or 7 year old child, who has their entire life ahead of them. They get all upset at the sports games if their Child’s team looses. I mean, look at what happened a few months back, where parents fought because their children did not win the game. Now, instead of playing for fun, they are working. We can also force our children to have good grades, and to go to the schools we want them to, or even, do the things we could not in our life. Many of the things that we are overbearing about are those things that we’re guilty of doing, and we want to make sure that they do not end up just like…. who? Us…
Having now stated what not to do, Paul moves on to tell us what exactly to do in order to produce a child of God. He says, “But being them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” How can this be done? By example, “only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren.” (Deuteronomy 4:9); then, through teaching the younger generations (offspring) these things; It is truly sad that the mighty works of God are difficult to transmit to the next generation.
It is usually that generation that sees and experiences the work of God, seek and serve God with all their heart. As a result God blesses them. With all the blessings, they then try to spare their children the hardships and tests of faith that they went through by giving them the fruit of their blessings. Thus the second generations have heard of what God had done through total trust and reliance on Him, but have not had to experience it for them, for everything was handed directly down to them. It is by the next generation that all is lost for they do not even hear of the work of God because their parents had no first hand experience as the previous generations. What is the cure? Simply bring your children into a first generation experience of this power and work of God; then, bring your grandchildren into it as well (Deuteronomy 6:3-7). Note earlier and even in the verse I had just mentioned that it states that we are to “teach” them diligently to the children. We are called to talk of them when you sit in your house at the dinner table, when you walk by, when you lie down with them, and when you rise up with them. In other words, 24-7 conversations about these things, drill it in! Read them the scriptures in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening to them. The Bible makes it clear that once you do they will not depart from it. This is important! That each one of us keep the spiritual environment in our homes. Monitor the programs your kids watch on the television, who your kids are hanging around with, and where they are at. One of compromises of Satan offered to Moses by Pharaoh, was, “you and the people can go into the Wilderness to worship God, but leave your children here. Do not deprive them the ease and luxury of Egypt which is spiritual type of flesh.” (Deuteronomy 6:20-24) Satan would say to us sometimes, and perhaps has said it to our parents, “let them watch this, do not take them away from the world, or what their friends are watching or doing; however, let them engross themselves into this junk and let their lives slip away…” Instead, take a stand knowing that it is for the best that you are teaching and watching your children. Then, when they ask you about the rules for life set forth in the Bible you can explain to them that these rules are placed forth for ultimate blessing and the freedom of this land and why we must keep these rules if we are to stay blessed. Read for your own time of study, the dying words of David to his son Solomon (1 Chronicles 22:11-13; 28:9-19). Later it was Solomon who was wise enough to write, “Hear my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding; For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law. When I was my father’s son, tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, he also taught me, and said to me: ‘let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live.'” (Proverbs 4:1-4)
Aside from simply learning and knowing how biblically we can raise Godly children, we also see another vital application given to us through Paul. What is this application? Well, personal. See, each of us are the children of God (John 1:12) and as so we are to obey our Father in heaven, and in order to obey we must learn and meditate on His word daily. This is our instructions manual, or words of wisdom from the Father on how to live a life that is pleasing to Him! All we need now to do is open it up.
Today, open up His words, heed His advice, and believe in the redemption that God has given to us through His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13, NKJV) When you accept the sacrifice that Jesus made for you and me, you become an adopted child of the living God. Sure, I am not going to lie, the road ahead will be bumpy; however, it will be a great blessing that you nor anyone else could ever experience on this world. If you’d like to accept Christ today; then, by all means please join me in this simple prayer asking Jesus into your heart, mind, and soul.
Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner, and take this time to confess all my sins and ask for your forgiveness. Come into my heart, my mind, and my soul. Take complete control, and be LORD of my life. I ask these things all in your precious holy name, AMEN.
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