All of us were children at one time in our lives. When your parents told you to do something or to not do something, did you always obey? You can probably remember times when you disobeyed your parents. Maybe you are still in your parent’s household; do you obey your parents now?
It is clear that obedience to parents is important with God. Colossians 3:20 “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.” Note that the apostle says that you are to obey your parents in all things, and he says that this is well pleasing to the Lord. A similar passage is found in Ephesians 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’” Here the apostle modifies the obedience with the phrase “in the Lord”; if your parents told you to do something illegal or sinful, God would not expect you to obey them in such a case. The apostle quotes from the fifth of the Ten Commandments recorded in Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16. There the expression is “Honor your father and mother”. Obedience to your parents is part of honoring them. In the Ten Commandments, a promise is given to the obedient child: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” Things will not go well with the disobedient child and his life will likely be shortened as a result of his rebellion.
Our parents have lived much longer than we have. Through experience, they have gained understanding and wisdom. Loving parents look out for the good of their children; you need to listen to them. Proverbs 4:1-5 “Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding; for I give you good doctrine: do not forsake my law. When I was my father’s son, tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, he also taught me, and said to me: ‘Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live. Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.’”
Whether or not you still have earthly parents, you will always have a Father in heaven. 1 John 3:1-3 “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” Romans 8:14-17 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” John 1:11-13 “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
As you are to obey your earthly parents, how much more should you obey your heavenly Father? 1 Peter 1:13-16 “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” Ephesians 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.” Your heavenly Father is infinitely wise. He knows what is best for you. As a loving Father, His instructions and commands are for your own good. Whereas obeying your earthly parents brings the promise of things going well with you and that you will live long on the earth, obedience to your heavenly Father will also cause things in this life to go well with you and you will inherit eternal life.
Willingly obey your Father in heaven. He will richly bless you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”