Today we will continue our installments on "How To Have A Happy Home". You will recall that a happy home has four very important concepts that are essential for the home to be a happy one: Leadership, Involvement, Security, and Relationship. In our last Marital Moments segment we focused on Relationships In The Home. I gave the first of three thoughts on Relationships which started with the Relationship Between Husband and Wife. Today I will continue on with this lesson by giving you the second point on Relationships. (2) The Relationship Between Children And Parents. Ephesians 6:1-3 states, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise) that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth". In this text obey has to do with the child's actions and honor has to do with the child's attitude. The word "obey" means to listen attentively and to respond positively to what is heard. Children are to place themselves under the words and authority of their parents. Children who constant-ly have their own way will soon mock the authority of their parents, the school, the employer, and ultimately God's authority. If he is made to mind then he will grow up to respect both his parent's and other's authority. A child is born a rebel. He has a sin nature. He or she must be taught by their parents to obey and to have respect for their authority. Notice two important truths in these verses. (a) Ephesians 6:1 states that to obey is "right". That is, it is exactly as it should be. A child does not know what is right. He must be taught. A child just naturally rebels against authority and he must be trained by his parents how to obey. It is "right" for the child, his parents, and for his God that he be both taught and made to obey the voice of authority. Proverbs 22:15 states that, "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction will drive it far from him". Proverbs 19:18 states, "Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying". Teach your child early in his life what is expected of him and what are the consequences if he disobeys. You can bend a young tree to your will, but you will never bend an older tree. It will break before it bends. I have lived long enough to appreciate the loving discipline of my parents. They taught me to obey at an early age. The simple lesson of obedience that Mom and Dad taught me has paid huge dividends in my life down through the years. (b) Ephesians 6:2 says that honor is "The first commandment with promise". This is taken from Exodus 20 where God gives the Ten Commandments. It is the fifth commandment. It boldly declares that if a child will honor his parents then "Thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee". A child that is rude, disrespectful, rebellious, and unloving to his parents will find a difficult path ahead of him. He usually gravitates toward the wrong crowd, he rebels against all authority, and in some cases ends up in jail simply because he failed to honor is parents. Our society has produced a bumper crop of children that are restless and ruthless and who are determined to do their own thing in life. These children become the juvenile de-linquents of our day. However, a child that loves, honors, and obeys his parents will consistently enjoy a more stable life, a more joyful life, and a more successful life. An important truth must be stated: If you want to be a parent that is honored then make certain that you are an honorable parent. Remember, if you would have a happy home then you must build a strong Relationship Between Children and Parents.
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