What God
Expects…
bible
reading: Ephesians 6:1–4
key
bible verse: And now a word to you fathers. Don’t make your
children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the
discipline and instruction approved by the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)
God expects parents to be patient with their children.
If our faith in Christ is real,
it will usually prove itself at home, in our relationships with those who know
us best. Children and parents have a responsibility to each other. Children
should honor their parents even if the parents are demanding and unfair.
Parents should care gently for their children, even if the children are
disobedient and unpleasant. Ideally, of course, Christian parents and children
will relate to each other with thoughtfulness and love. This will happen if
both parents and children put the others’ interests above their own—that is, if
they submit to one another.
The purpose of parental discipline is to help children grow, not to
exasperate and provoke them to anger or discouragement (see also Colossians
3:21). Parenting is not easy—it takes lots of patience to raise children in a
loving, Christ-honoring manner. But frustration and anger should not be causes
for discipline. Instead, parents should act in love, treating their children as
Jesus treats the people he loves. This is vital to children’s development and
to their understanding of what Christ is like.
What does God expect
from children?
bible reading: Exodus
20:1–12
key bible verse: Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in
the land the Lord your God will
give you. (Exodus 20:12)
Children are to honor their parents. This is the first commandment with a promise attached. To live in peace
for generations in the Promised Land, the Israelites would need to respect
authority and build strong families. But what does it mean to “honor” parents?
Partly, it means speaking well of them and politely to them. It also means
acting in a way that shows them courtesy and respect (but not to obey them if
this means disobedience to God). It means following their teaching and example
of putting God first. Parents have a special place in God’s sight. Even those
who find it difficult to get along with their parents are still commanded to
honor them[1]
[1] Neil
S. Wilson, The Handbook of
Bible Application.