Honor your parents. (Ephesians 6:1-4)

Sunday after working at my job, I went over to my parents house to begin painting their second floor bedrooms. I agreed to do the work a few weeks back when my schedule was a little lighter than it is now. In my head I was trying to think of an excuse not to go over...(I could be home doing things around my house... Vacation is only a week away, I need to get my fishing rods ready... a quiet Sunday with my family would be nice...) That's when I remembered the verse below from Ephesians, the one that has a promise attached to it. I need to honor my parents! My attitude changed when I realized this is a command from God, and I must be obedient.

Ephesians 6:1-4

New Living Translation (NLT)

6 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. ² “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: ³ If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

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 Christian 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.

Joe