God's Blueprint For Children
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Youth gangs are an increasing problem in our culture. Last
summer an Oak Creek family put up a new wooden fence and within 48 hours of its
completion, it had gang symbols painted all over it. Youth gangs are responsible
for thefts, rapes, assault, drug sales, murder and more. I know for a fact that
there are kids in my church who have been pressured to become a part of a gang.
One of the members of this church has produced a video on the gang problem. We
have used that video in our Time Out Ministry.
One of the hallmark characteristics of gangs is that they
have no respect for parents or authority figures. They despise anyone in the
place of authority and become an authority unto themselves and even spurn the
authority of God! I must warn you parents, this attitude begins early in
children and if not corrected you will have big trouble on your hands even
before your child is a teenager.
I want to share with you a shocking true story about a youth
gang and how that God judged that gang because of their lack of respect for a
man of God. There were 42 gang members in this gang and they were all in their
early teens, most likely. A preacher was out for a walk. As he passed by the
woods, these kids poured out and surrounded him.
Have you ever been in a situation like that? I can tell you
from experience, it is frightening. A situation something like that happened to
Linda, Steve, Karla and I one time. We had just come out of church and I hailed
a driver to take us home. As we were walking to where he was parked, a young
mother came out with a sickly looking baby. She was asking me for money to help
her baby. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small bill and handed it to
her. That is when things got out of hand. Before we knew it, people poured out
from the allies and from behind houses and we were literally surrounded. They
were all pushing us until they had us backed up against the car. I was fearful
for my wife and our two young kids. The driver
managed to get the door open. I shoved my wife and Karla in
and threw Steve in. I managed to get in and wrench the door from grasping hands
as the driver pulled away. He scolded me and warned me never to do that again. I
can tell you, that is high on my list of life’s most frightening experiences.
Now back to the original story, these 42 gang members
surrounded this preacher. They began to mock him and ridicule him. They even
knocked him down and then taunted him saying, get up baldy, get up! Then they
backed off. Well, that preacher did get up, turned to face the rowdy gang,
headed right toward them and stared right at them. Then he did something that
shocked them. He told them that their conduct was reprehensible before God and
that God would judge them because of it. Before the gang could respond, two she
bears came out of the woods and attacked the gang members. All 42 of them were
torn to shreds.
This is a true story my friends. God does not take lightly
those who mock their parents, preachers, or those in rightful authority. Before
we move on, I want to document the account I have just shared with you. Read 2
Kings 2:23-24.
God’s Will For Children Is That They Honor Their Parents!
That brings me to my first point. It is God's will that a
child honor his parents. Now, you might be wondering, what does this have to
do with the above illustration about the youth gangs? Let me make it clear if
children do not honor their parents, it is unlikely that they will honor any
other authority, not even God!
Young people, listen to me. It is God’s will that you honor
your parents. The fifth of the Ten Commandments says, Honour
thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the
LORD thy God giveth thee Exodus 20:12. Eight times
this commandment is repeated in the Bible.
In the Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary, honor
is defined -- To revere; to respect; to treat with deference and submission.
This lines up with the Hebrew and Greek word translated honor. It is God’s
will that children honor their parents. Look at Leviticus 19:3 Ye
shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the
LORD your God.
The word fear in this verse is the Hebrew word yare'
(yaw-ray; 3372) which implies such high respect for someone that you would have
great apprehension about doing something that would displease them. Read
Leviticus 19:3 again. You can tell if a young person honors their parents,
because, if they do they will not regularly do anything that would displease
them. This attitude pleases God! God honors children that honor their parents.
BUT, what about those who dishonor their parents? The Bible
has plenty to say about that...
Deuteronomy 27:16 Cursed be he
that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say,
Amen.
The phrase "setteth light" means to esteem
lightly or to pay little or no attention to. The word "cursed" means
to execrate. Now that is not a word we use today. "Execrate" means to
pronounce a curse or pronounce evil against. God say that those who do not honor
their parents are cursed. They are headed for evil, because he will put evil in
their path.
Now, just in case you are inclined to ignore this passage
because it is Old Testament, consider Matthew 15:4
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth
(revile or speak evil of or to) father or mother, let him die the death.Let me make it clear what this passage means. Any young person who refused
to respect and obey his parents was worthy of the death penalty (see Ex. 21:17
& Lev. 20:9).
I will say it again. God’s will for children is that they
honor their parents. Ephesians 6:2 says, Honour thy
father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
- Helping Parents In Their Old Age
There is another way which grown children are to honor their
parents in their old age, that is to help them and if necessary care for them.
There are numerous verses that point out this responsibility.
Matthew 15:5-6
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by
whatsoever thou mightest be profited (helped) by me; 6 And honour not his
father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God
of none effect by your tradition.
1 Timothy 5:4 But if any widow have
children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety (to care for) at
home, and to requite (repay) their parents: for that is good and
acceptable before God.
Proverbs 23:22 Hearken unto thy father that begat
thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
There is one last verse that I want to share with you --
Leviticus 19:32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary (gray or
white) head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the
LORD.
- It Is God’s Will That Children Obey Their Parents
Ephesians 6:1
Children, obey
your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother;
which is the first commandment with promise;
Colossians 3:20 Children, obey
your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
See also Proverbs 1:8-16; Proverbs 6:20-23
It is God’s will that children obey their parents. Now, I
must say that there is one exception to this rule. If a parent asked you to sin
against what the Bible says, then you must obey God (Acts 5:29).
God’s Will For All Children Is:
To Honor
And Obey Their Parents.
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