Authority over Children

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother "which is the first commandment with a promise that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." Ephesians 6:14

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What is authority? It is the right to give instructions and require obedience. Almost immediately after birth, children try to do their own thing, and having their own way. You have probably heard a child say, "I don't want anybody telling me what to do” or “it is my life, I should be able to make my own decisions”. They want the power to control their own lives and this defying attitude and complete rejection of authority is especially obvious in today’s family. Sitcoms, books, movies and televisions almost never portray fathers as the head of the household, they often share authority equally with the wives, or worst they are dominated by wives, and the scary factor is that Child welfare agencies in this country affirm these modern views. They try to convince parents that they have no right to exercise firm leadership or else they would be put in jail and their children taken away; consequently, parents are afraid to exercise their God given authority. Other parents just want to be friends. They forgot their roles is to be a "parent" to the children. As a result, the children, not the parents, end up being the dominant influence in the home. Many parents live to regret it when the children get older and do not come to them for advice or when they refuse to take their advice because they have no respect for their parents and do not value their opinions. The truth of the matter is by the time they get older it is too late for parenting. That is is the Bible urges us to train the child early.

1 Corinthians 11:3 says that the head of the woman is the man, just as the head of man is Christ, and Ephesians 5:22-24 tells us that the wife should obey her husband as the church should obey Christ. Parents cannot even expect children to respect their authority, until the parents correct their own relationship toward each other. Children will not respect the father's authority, if he cannot maintain authority over his wife. Nor will they respect the mother's authority, if she refuses to respect her husband's authority, it is that simple. Parents have to be able to relate to each other, before they can even relate to their children. In the Old Testament a rebellious son, who would not obey his parents, was to be stoned (Deuteronomy 21:18-21). People start getting uncomfortable when we start discussing obedience, (even church people) but it all comes from the word of God. Both parents and children were made by God. He knows what is best for all. These views may seem strict and outrageous to the world but Christians should seriously ask themselves whether or not they should be influenced by society or God, their maker.

Eli told his sons they were wrong and but it wasn't enough. They still would not obey. God rejected Eli's house because Eli did not restrain his sons, He had no authority over them (1 Samuel 2:22-25; 3:12,13). Friend you cannot risk losing control of your home. The main reason children grow up rebellious is simply that they have not been properly required to submit to authority (their parents) while growing up, and they get away with it; as a results, they carry the same non-challant attitude in their adults life which brings devastating results. They often live miserable lives and they have to continuously struggle with submitting to authority. That is exactly why parents should exercise authority over the children. It is done for the good of the child. It teaches lessons that will be of a great benefit both now and for eternity, and parents who do not want to guide their children properly often live to regret it as mentioned earlier. This is why use of authority is not contrary to love but is a proper exercise of love. If you love your child then you will train him right.

Friend, you should be trying to raise godly children. The ultimate goal of your authority is to teach them respect for God's authority from an early age. You should expect your children to obey you like God will expect them to obey Him, and if your children have not learned to obey you like they should obey God, then you have work to do.You have Got to be obedient to God by raising your children according to His word. God says it your job to teach it to them. Parents, please do not be afraid to teach the Word of God to your children. Providing material things is great and spending time playing with them is wonderful, but your main job is to raise them as God fearing adults. When you do, if if they rebel against you as a child, they will come to appreciate and respect you as adults.

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Colossians 3:20

Praise the Lord!