Parenting isn’t easy, but God first gave the formula for rearing children to his chosen people, the children of Israel. Those rules were carried over into the New Testament and were taught in various forms. When the Gentiles were included in God’s salvation, beginning with the household of Cornelius recorded in Acts 10, the rules for marriage and parenting then became part of the life of the Gentiles when they obeyed the gospel and followed Christ. Rearing children was part of the new life in Christ.

While parenting isn’t easy even though God gives the formula, all kinds of persons insist on making bringing up children much more difficult. So called child experts and politicians try to influence parents, and in the case of government, politicians who know not God, or refuse to recognize God’s way, put forth ideas that counter the right of parents to raise their children.   

To set the tone for what follows in this lesson and the next, the words of Paul in Ephesians are most appropriate. He wrote: And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4) Then in Colossians 3:21, Paul wrote: Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Notice that beginning with Genesis when God created Adam and Eve, the man bears the burden of the responsibility for leadership of the wife and the children. While the wife plays a supporting role, the head of the family is the husband. Paul wrote: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. (Ephesians 5:22-23) Those verses cause dissension for the modern thinkers, but that doesn’t change the foundation for the husband being the head of the family as is Christ and his headship of the church. Since Christ hasn’t done anything to harm the members of his body, neither must the husband harm his wife in any manner and the husband in like manner, is in effect the savior of the family, a God given role and responsibility.

Then in verses 24-25 Paul continued: 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Near the end of the chapter we find the following: 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.  Genesis 2:24 gives the foundation for Paul’s words: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (It is suggested that you read Ephesians 5:22-33 for the full meaning.)  

Just as God gave the instructions to the Jews in the Old testament about rearing children, he gave instructions to the children in Ephesians 6:1-3: 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 word of God covers all the relationships that any human might have with any other human and it is right for children to obey their parents since that is God’s way and the proper order for families.

The words in verse three are often overlooked; the instructions in that verse tell all of us that when children honor their parents they not only will live well, but that they will live long on the earth. That is not to say that it will prevent premature death, but following the Lord’s instructions certainly will diminish the chances of an early demise.

However, in the modern era God isn’t followed by many parents and the children consequently grow up without God’s direction. Evidence of that is seen daily with out of control youth committing all kinds of atrocities. Paul told Timothy: 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:1-5) They were living in perilous times and through the years since Paul wrote those words, the peril has continued and is present in this day and age. The next lesson will address the peril Christians and their children are facing from the godless and the wicked that fits the behavior spoken of in the verses immediately above.

© 04-27-2007 DEC

               Next Lesson The Right Order of Things Part III