The Christian Home And Family - The Duties Of Children

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                    "THE CHRISTIAN HOME AND FAMILY"

                         The Duties Of Children

INTRODUCTION

1. In previous lessons on the Christian home and family, we have
   discussed...
   a. The sanctity of marriage
   b. The duties of husbands and wives
   c. The duties of fathers and mothers

2. We now come to the duties of children, who hopefully have...
   a. Fathers who provide for them and raise them in the way of the Lord
   b. Mothers who love them and care for them as an intricate part of
      the household

[A good place to begin is Ep 6:1, where the apostle Paul charges
children to...]

I. OBEY YOUR PARENTS!

   A. IN THE LORD, FOR THIS RIGHT...
      1. The charge as found in Ep 6:1
      2. "in the Lord" means that this is what the Lord wants you to do
      3. Even as Jesus Himself obeyed His parents - cf. Lk 2:51
      4. "for this right" implies that disobeying parents is wrong
      5. Indeed, rebellion is as evil as witchcraft and idolatry - cf.
         1Sam 15:23

   B. IN ALL THINGS, FOR THIS IS WELL PLEASING TO THE LORD...
      1. The charge as found in Col 3:20
      2. "in all things" presumes in harmony with God’s will - cf. Ac
         5:29
      3. When children obey their parents, the Lord is pleased!
      4. The OT clearly reveals God’s displeasure when children disobey
         their parents, and how seriously it was taken back then - cf.
         Exo 21:15,17; Deut 21:18-21; Pr 30:17

[Children can be thankful their Christian parents do not live under the
OT, but the NT!  Nonetheless, disobedience is not to be taken lightly.
Nor is obeying parents to be done begrudgingly...]

II. HONOR YOUR PARENTS!

   A. BOTH FATHER AND MOTHER...
      1. As charged in Ep 6:2
      2. One of the Ten Commandments in the Law of Moses - cf. Exo
         20:12; Deut 5:16
      3. To honor implies to love, to regard highly, to show the spirit
         of respect and consideration - Hendriksen
      4. Thus obedience to one’s parents is to be rendered in love and
         with respect

   B. TO RECEIVE THE PROMISE...
      1. The command to honor one’s parents came with a promise - Ep
         6:2-3
      2. "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the
         earth." - cf. Deut 5:16
      3. This promise is true in general; there are often exceptions
         (e.g., Jesus)
      4. But a child who loves and respects his or her parents is more
         likely to benefit from them
      5. From their wisdom, but also from God’s providential care!
      6. Disrespect your parents, you incur both their wrath and God’s
         as well!

[The duty of children to honor their parents does not end when they
leave the home.  When mothers and fathers become aged, children have the
duty to...]

III. SUPPORT YOUR PARENTS!

   A. AS TAUGHT BY JESUS...
      1. When He exposed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees’ traditions - Mk
         7:6-13
      2. The command to honor one’s parents implied care by adult
         children - Mk 7:11-12
      3. Thus the duty to love, respect, and care for parents never
         ends!

   B. AS TAUGHT BY PAUL...
      1. In teaching concerning the care of widows - 1Ti 5:3-8,16
      2. Children (and grandchildren) are to repay their needy parents
         - 1Ti 5:4
      3. Thus we are to provide security for our parents and
         grandparents as needed
      4. Failure to do so denies the faith, and makes one worse than an
         infidel - 1Ti 5:8

CONCLUSION

1. The duties of children are clear...
   a. Obey your parents!
   b. Honor your parents!
   c. Support your parents!

2. Blessed is the home and family where...
   a. Husbands and wives fulfill their duties to one another
   b. Parents and children fulfill their duties to one another

Such homes and families are a common occurrence, wherever the
admonitions of the Lord are taken seriously by all the members of the
family...!

   My son, keep your father’s command,
      And do not forsake the law of your mother.
   Bind them continually upon your heart;
      Tie them around your neck.
   When you roam, they will lead you;
      When you sleep, they will keep you;
      And when you awake, they will speak with you.
                                 				- Pr 6:20-22
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