Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
The very first and foremost duty of children is to honor their parents by obeying them in all things, according to what is written in the scriptures. The word "Honor" does not only include respect, but it also involves yielding obedience to one's parents, if their requirements do not contradict the Bible, or the sacred principles upon which God's government is founded. Now, it's of critical importance that both parents and children understand the extensive nature of this command, for it has implications not only with the inner family circle, but rather reaches out to the wider community, and finally to God, and the way His government is run. Christian parents can always point to some truth or some godly principle that is inherent in the laws of the home, or the commands they give to their children, but even this falls far short of the real meaning of the command.
There are many instances where no godly principle or truth may be involved directly in a given command, for the instruction may have to do with the parents' own wishes or preferences. In cases such as these the god-faring child would submit humbly to the requests of their parents, giving them the benefit of the doubt on account of their experience and knowledge, and even if these are lacking, the command to honor one's parents still stands. For instance, a Christian parent may request of a child that they be home by a certain time, for whatever reason. Now there's absolutely no scripture that says specifically what time children should be home by, for issues such as these are left solely up to the discretion of the parents.
One Christian parent may stipulate eight o'clock for teenagers, whilst another may set a threshold of ten or eleven o'clock. While it is true that the safety and whereabouts of our children at night should be taken into account, yet there is no firm, binding rule in the Bible regarding the time for children to come home. Children are therefore required to obey their parents wishes in such gray areas, even if they do not agree with the reasons or stipulations of the parents, for the real issue at stake is not so much the literal time, but rather the greater issue of rendering obedience as God has commanded. Children who grow up with the habit and attitude of obeying their parents will most likely be willing to take instructions from their employers, and if they remain in the church, they will not generally be trouble-makers, because the same principle that was developed at home will then spread out evenly to the wider stage of the community of fellow-believers, and all to whom secular, God-given authority has been delegated, hence the apostle Paul writes to us in words that encourage compliance in these matters. Let's read:
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
A child that does not obey his or her parents whilst under their roof, or otherwise resents the God-ordained authority of father and mother, will most likely never obey God, because the same attitude of self-will which dominated during their earlier years, will be made manifest when Christ asks them to walk in obedience to His commandments, and it is for this reason why very many children and adults not only die prematurely, but will also be excluded from the gates of heaven, simply because they never submitted to the wise ordinance of God to obey their parents.
In our day we are facing a signal reversal of the fifth commandment by children who not only resent the authority of their parents, but who also take pride in being rebellious and self-willed in their dispositions and attitudes, and as a direct result, we have children rising up against their teachers in schools, and shooting at random, those who have jurisdiction over them. In case we may not have known how God views this current state of things, we will read from His word what the ultimate outcome will be, if genuine repentance and confession on the part of disobedient children do not occur. Let's read:
Deuteronomy 21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
We therefore end with a warning to those who erroneously believe that God has changed over the years, and it is His will that as we read, our hearts and minds may be sobered, instructed, and encouraged to do that which is right and pleasing in His sight. Let's read:
Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God".... 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!