Colossians 3:21; Deuteronomy 6:1-9 – Parents
One of the wonderful things about divine revelation is the absolute fairness that it exhibits. Paul did not simply exhort wives how they should act towards their husbands, he also directs husbands regarding their role in the marriage relationship. So it is with regard to parents and children. Having urged children to be obedient, he then turns the spotlight onto the parents, and especially, the fathers. If parents are to have a realistic expectation of the kind of joyful and willing obedience that they would like to have from their children, they must be very careful that their behaviour and attitudes do not exasperate their children and cause them to lose heart.
Although this injunction is directed specifically at fathers, the teaching contained in it should apply equally to mothers. It is the responsibility of fathers as the head of the home, to create an atmosphere of love and confidence, to take the lead in the discipline, teaching and training of the children. It is interesting that Paul does not focus attention here upon harsh discipline, but on encouragement. A father who is inconsistent in his teaching or in his discipline or in his own personal life, will quickly discourage his children and make them resentful. The child must never be made to feel that he can never do anything right and that anything that he does is inadequate. The child who is never appreciated nor commended will very quickly lose heart.
William Hendriksen puts it very well when he highlights how a Christian father should behave towards his children; ‘a good father spends time with his children, teaches, entertains, and encourages them, and by his example as well as by outright, verbal instruction, points them to Christ’.
The role and responsibilities of parents are indeed onerous and can only properly be fulfilled in dependence on and in the strength and wisdom of God.
Questions
- Is the atmosphere in your home such that children find it easy to obey?
Prayer Points
- Pray for the parents in the congregation.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.