OBEY

“Children, OBEY your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord” – Colossians 3:20

The third key to Order in the Family is OBEDIENCE: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Eph.6:1). A child is one who is still living in the home or under parental guidance and provisions, irrespective of his or her age. Obedience to parents pleases the Lord. Children who have a relationship with God should not be identified by disobedience to parents, which is one of the marks of the pagan world in which people deny and defy God (Rom.1:28-30). Jacob obeyed his parents (Gen.28:7). Joseph obediently ran errands for his father (Gen.37:13). David obeyed Jesse (1Sam.17:20). Esther obeyed her guardian Mordecai (Est.2:20). A child that does not obey the parents or recognize their authority will not recognize other authorities. The contemporary world is marked by defiance to authority: children disobey parents, students disrespect teachers, employees dishonor employers, and droves defy divine authority! A child who never learns obedience at home will struggle with disobedience and live in lawlessness for the rest of his or her life.

Obedience to parents is so vital it is among the Ten Commandments: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you” (Exo.20:12). It “is the first commandment with promise” (Eph.6:2b). Children who honor their parents are promised wellness and longevity; whereas, the disobedient to parents would disobey other authorities as well, and end up with a shortened life. Since obedience to parents is the foundation to all authority, there are drastic consequences for disobedience. In the Old Testament, the slightest disobedience was strictly punished: “And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death” (Exo.21:17; Lev.20:9a); “Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness” (Pr.20:20). “The eye that mocks his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it” (Pro.30:17).

Although we are in the Covenant of Grace, God’s principles still hold. If disobedience to parents is allowed in society, then the authority structure will break down and there would be chaos. When the child-parent relationship breaks down, society suffers for it. Any society that goes to these extremes will ultimately come under the curse and judgement of God. That was the fate of Israel right before God used Assyria to judge them: “As for my people, children are their oppressors, nd women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths” (Isa.3:12-13). The youth were running the home. The parents were no longer exercising authority over them. This then extended to the rest of society. The youth were running wild and rebelling against all authority. In many cities and communities in the world today, lives are on edge because of youth oppression in the forms of protests, riots, lewdness, violence, and diverse other vices.

It is typical that when a revival starts, it often starts with youth. The same is true when society is in decay, as youth begin to rebel against divine authority. Therefore, Satan is always desperately trying to influence how the youth think and behave. He attacks them through sexually explicit, rebellious music and videos; fills their brains with liberal thinking; floods their minds with lusts; while trying to steal their spirits to his side. The training of youth is thus vital and strategic. Wise parents will make sure their children are properly trained in the Lord at home (Pro.22:6). Obedience to parents however has limits. Children should not obey whatever would displease God, violate His Word or their consciences. Like the apostles, when commanded by the Pharisees to no longer preach in the name of Christ, they declared, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29b). Obedience is not meant only for children. We all must imbibe the Spirit of Obedience and walk in obedience all through life; like the Rechabites, passing on the generational baton (Jer.35:14). This is what pleases the Lord!