CAUTION FOR ALL CHILDREN
Eli spoke to his children about their evil acts but had no moral courage to remove them from their office. We must not pamper our children or love them more than God. Moreover, you must take your children along in obedience to divine command and get them committed to obeying God’s word. No parent has the right to require a child to steal, tell a lie, cheat, or do any wrong thing.
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right“. Ephesians 6:1
“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me“. Matthew 10:37
Should Children Obey Their Parents In All Things?
Obedience in Alignment with God’s Word
Children can only obey as far as their parents’ commandments are in line with the word of God. Parents have no divine support when they force children to follow them against God’s command—for example, forcing children to worship idols.
Disobedience in Sinful Practices
Whenever parent’s instructions or commands contradict God’s word, Christian children will obey God’s word. Children are not expected to follow the sinful lifestyles or evil practices of their parents.
“Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father’s sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like, That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour’s wife, Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment, That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity“. Ezekiel 18:14-18
Why Should Children Follow After Righteousness?
Avoiding Foundational Bondage
Any child who follows the right way of God against his parents’ evil ways will not inherit the foundational bondage of his place of birth. Such children will save themselves from many troubles and receive blessings from the Almighty God. The best way to overcome foundational bondage and the evil powers of your parent is to avoid the sinful lifestyles of your parents and stand for righteousness.
The Example of Jonathan
Jonathan indeed suffered persecution from Saul, his father, for standing for righteousness, but his seed benefited from his holy foundation. His seed was separated and preserved from grievous deaths in time of judgment.
“But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the Lord’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the Lord: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest“. 2 Samuel 21:7-9
God’s Protection Over Forsaken Children
The Psalmist said, ‘’When my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up.’’ When God takes your case up, you can be sure of receiving the proper justice (Psalms 27:10). Parents who love their children do everything possible to give them the proper upbringing. They hand their children over to God to lift them and help them obey God at all costs.
“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord“. Ephesians 6:4
“And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the Lord“. Exodus 10:2
The Responsibility of Parents
Parents’ lifestyle provokes their children to obey God and give them every support they need to serve Him. They don’t provoke their children to wrath and wrong actions. They guide them to follow God and live right. They bring their children to maturity in the fear and admonition of the Lord. They are guided by the testimonies of the LORD’s acts and motivated to follow Christ till the end.
“Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children“. Deuteronomy 4:9, 10
Parents are commanded to teach their children the good acts of God in the past. To live happily on this earth and end well, you must guide your children in the way of God. Parents must teach their children both by instruction and by their lifestyle. Every parent owes their children good training and the truth in every matter. They must not provoke their children to violence or cause them to hate anyone (Deuteronomy 11:18-21; Psalms 78:1-8; Proverbs 19:18; 22:6, 15, 17).
Early training, which involves correcting your children when necessary, will secure their future and give them hope. They may cry as you chastise them, but they will live to be grateful to you. That’s why King Solomon counseled parents to train their children in how they should go so that they will not depart from it when they grow up to maturity. Using the rod of correction drives away the foolishness the devil planted in the hearts of children.
“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus“. 2 Timothy 3:14, 15
“Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby“. Hebrews 12:9-11
Whatever children learn from childhood is not easily forgotten, even after their teachers are no more. Children will be rather grateful to parents who guided them in the LORD’s way than those who led them to evil. They may resist your correction now, but later, they will appreciate you for correcting them in their youth. All parents who fail in their duty to correct and instruct their children will suffer greatly for their negligence. Be that parent that will guide your children aright.