Train Them to a Habit of Prompt Obedience.

Ephesians 6:14; Colossians 3:20; Ephesians 6:1; 2 Timothy 3:2  •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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This is an object which it is worth any labor to attain. No habit I suspect has such an influence over our lives as this. Parents, determine to make your children obey you, though it may cost you much trouble and cost them many tears. Let there be no questioning and reasoning and disputing and delaying and answering again. When you give them a command, let them see plainly that you will have it done. It is the mark of well-trained children that they do whatsoever their parents command them. Where indeed is the honor which Ephesians 6:11Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1) enjoins, if fathers and mothers are not obeyed, cheerfully, willingly and at once (Eph. 6:1414Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (Ephesians 6:14); Col. 3:2020Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (Colossians 3:20))?
Early obedience has all Scripture on its side. It is said in Abraham’s praise, not merely he will train his family, but “he will command his children and his household after him” (Gen. 18:1919For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. (Genesis 18:19)). It is said of the Lord Jesus Himself that when He was young He was subject to Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:5151And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. (Luke 2:51)). Mark how the Apostle Paul names disobedience to parents as one of the bad signs of the last days (2 Tim. 3:2).
Parents, do you wish to see your children happy? Take care then that you train them to obey when they are spoken to — to do as they are bid. Believe me, we are not made for entire independence; we are not fit for it. Even Christ’s freemen have a yoke to wear — they “serve the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:2424Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:24)). Children cannot learn too soon that this is a world in which we are not intended to rule and that we are never in our right place until we know how to obey. Teach them to obey while young, or else they will be fretting against God all their lives long and will wear themselves out with the vain idea of being independent of His control.
You will see many in this day who allow their children to choose and think for themselves long before they are able, and they even make excuses for their disobedience, as if it were a thing not to be blamed. To my eyes, a parent who is always yielding and a child who is always having its own way is a most painful sight — painful because I see God’s appointed order of things inverted and turned upside down, and painful because I feel sure the consequence to that child’s character in the end will be self-will and self-conceit.