Children

As promised, over the next couple of weeks we are going to discuss the relationships we have with people on this earth and how those relationships correlation to the spiritual relationship we should have with God. Today we are going to start at the beginning; children.

There are two main perspectives with regard to children’s relationships: children towards their parents and parents towards their children. Let’s talk first to children.

Children are called to obey their parents. When Paul begins talking about family relations in Ephesians 6 he starts with children. He says for children first to obey their parents in the Lord; why, because this is right. When it comes to matters of life we should obey our parents as long as they do not contradict God’s instruction. He doesn’t stop there; in addition to obeying our parents Paul calls for us to honor our parents. He says honor your father and mother, for this is the first commandment with a promise. Here he is quoting from the Law of Moses when he received the Ten Commandments. The promise received is ‘that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth’. Paul provides family relation advice in his letter the Colossians as well. Chapter 3 verse 20 he tells children to be obedient to their parents because that is pleasing to the Lord.

Parents, we have a responsibility as well. Fathers are instructed to bring their children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Parents cannot let their children grow up undisciplined but fathers are instructed to not cause their children to become angry. Not that we should give in and let them have their way so that they don’t get upset, the Bible states numerous times that we are obligated to not spoil our children. The King James translation of this verse in Ephesians 6:4 instructs fathers to not provoke their children to wrath which indicates a deep, resentful, indignation. Paul is clear in his letter to the Colossians that we should not discipline our children just to annoy or irritate them as this will cause them to lose heart. We should raise our children in an atmosphere of love rather than fear. Children should be afraid of some things, yes, but a parent should not be one of those things. I John 4:18 identifies that there is no fear in love rather our love should cast out fear. Parents if we love our children and we show them that we love them they will see it and not fear us, rather they will show respect.

Spiritually:
We are called to obey God and not just obey but honor Him. God is our father and He will instruct us and discipline us when we stray. We should love Him and respect Him, if we do we will obey Him the same way we expect our children to obey us out of love and respect. God does not want us to seek Him so that we can avoid Hell. He wants us to seek Him because we love Him like our own father, if we obey after all we are joint heirs with Christ.