Title Ephesians 06:1-4 Child of God
Content Children of God
Ephesians 6:1-4
May is Family Month. Let us thank God for giving us families so that we can start a family with the blessings God has given us. The members of the domestic community are the couple and their children. As they go up to the temple, the psalmist sings the joy of family like this. “Your wife in the inner chamber of your house is like a fruitful vine, and your children around your table are like young olive trees” (Psalm 128:3). I hope that your families are like this.
(Ephesians 6) The first part of the Word teaches the role of the various members of the family. These are the roles of parents and children, and the roles of masters and servants. (Verse 1-3) is a lesson for children, and (Verse 4) tells how parents will raise their children as children of God at home. (4) gives two commands to parents. One is the command to remove the obstacles to the growth of the child of God, and the other is the content necessary for the child of God to grow properly. It is a command not to provoke children and to bring them up.
Today is Children's Day. So, focusing on (verse 4), let's listen to the message from the Lord and share the grace.
Don't make your children angry
“And fathers, do not provoke your children,” he says. It seems a bit inconsistent. When my parents say they're angry, I can understand that... . But a closer look at the meaning will change your mind. When parents anger their children, the anger prevents them from developing normally.
[Anger (忿怒)] is an emotion derived from 'no (怒)', one of the basic human emotions. This anger is a very common human emotion. But it's not an emotion that produces such good results. (Ephesians 4:26) says: “Be angry, but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not let the devil take a break.” And as a result, you can sin. Parents should, of course, avoid making their children angry.
Why does anger arise? Misunderstandings create anger, and anger arises when weaknesses are exposed or feelings of inferiority are felt. So instead of trying to understand your children and pointing out their weaknesses or comparing them to other children, you need to see the strengths of your own children. It's not that easy, but parents should try to do this. Sometimes anger is habitual. This is due to personality. Personality can also be fixed in God. Therefore, parents who raise children should be prayerful ones.
Not all anger is bad. When you see injustice, anger can arise. It is extremely normal anger. Some people have the wrong perception that love is not unconditionally angry. It's not like that. Look at the wrath of Jesus. I went to the temple to pray, and I met people selling pigeons and changing coins. Jesus overturned the table. This is just anger.
How does bad anger affect you? It has a bad effect on the person who gives the anger and the same effect on the person who gets the anger. It affects you psychologically, mentally, physically and socially throughout. Psychologically, they harm their children. Anxiety, fear, depression, and hostility arise in the mind and pass on to the child.
Eventually, if left unchecked, this inner anger can lead to physical symptoms that can lead to severe migraines, indigestion, diarrhea, ulcers, high blood pressure, or even a heart attack. Spiritually, sinful thoughts and desires often appear in slurred words and trample the soul of a child.
In a growing child, anger, or anger, is a weed that stunts growth. You must listen to the teachings of the Bible. (James 1:19) “Know this, my beloved brethren, that everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.” Taking a break can calm your anger. (Proverbs 16:32) “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his heart is better than he who takes a city.” Dear saints! How wonderful it would be if your children were like this. Even if you rule the world, if you cannot control your own heart, you are nothing more than a small boat.
Getting angry is a habit. Therefore, the gist of today's message is that the saints who become parents should not let their children fall into such a habit. Dear saints, please do not offend your children.
to be brought up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord
Next, I say: “Nurture them only in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.” The word 'nurture' means [educate, train]. Everyone knows the need for education. From infancy to college, our reality is that children cannot escape the fence of education. Parents are anxious about being hit by other children. It's an education, but it's a question of what to teach.
1) With the discipline of the Lord
What is the state's culture? It is the Bible. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfected for every good work." Lack of education today is not a problem. Isn't it a problem because the content of the education is knowledge-oriented, or more precisely, education for college entrance exams and employment?
We need to go back to the Bible. Teaching from the Bible is necessary for our children. Parents need to realize the importance of the Bible. Even though we know that missing a day from school is a huge problem, the reality is that missing a week of church school is not a big deal. There is no textbook that can teach a better culture than the words of the Bible given by the Lord.
2) With the admonition of the Lord
'Discipline' is 'other name'. Simply put, it's a 'whip'. In simple words, it means to educate with the rod of the Lord. (Proverbs 13:24) “He that is not full of brilliance hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.” However, when we use the rod, it is a problem because we cannot bear the anger and use the rod as a way to solve our anger. The hawk must be the hawk of love.
When lifting a hawk, do not lift it in anger. You have to pick up the rod because you love it. Anger only creates anger. We should educate and discipline with a heart of gratitude to God for giving us His beloved children. Do not try to force your child into realizing parental authority by claiming parental authority. It only creates a sense of rebellion and an unhealthy mind in the heart. When properly rewarded and disciplined, your children will grow up to be children of God.
Dear saints,
Whether you have children or not, today's Word is the truth. We are all people of God. Children are of course God's children entrusted to their parents. Don't provoke him by thinking it's mine, and treat it with care as if you were dealing with the precious things of God. Use advice and encouragement appropriately in your child's education. You will grow into the person God wants you to be.
I would like to conclude by listening to the words of Martin Luther. "If you spare the whip, throw away your children. But keep an apple next to the whip, and give it to your children when they do well." Hallelujah!