"Searching the Scriptures and Seeking the Lost"
A YOUNG PERSON’S RESPONSIBILITY IN THE HOME
by Wayne Jones
God, through His matchless grace, provided a place of security, safety, stability and strength in the home. As God designed it, the home will shield a young person from unnecessary hurt and heartache. As God designed it, the home will protect a young person from neglect and pain. As God designed it, the home will provide a foundation of truth upon which a young person can build his own faith and future. Although, it is not regarded this way by many young people, the greatest earthly blessings a young person can have is to belong to a Christian home.
With this great blessing comes a certain amount of responsibility. It is that way with any beneficial privilege. Take, for example, driving a car. This privilege carries with it the great duty of being caution and watchful so that we do not put ourselves and/or others in harms way. The same holds true for those who belong to a family. While fathers and mothers have been given divine responsibilities, we want to focus on some of the obligations that relate to the young people in the home.
LEAD
Christ expressed our obligation to be a positive influence in this world when He commanded that we be the light of the word and the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13-15). The purpose of this command was so that the world would see and know God through our influence (Matt. 15:16). Thus, we have the obligation of leading others to Christ.
Young people can be great instruments for God, even in the home. There are instances where the children might be Christians, but the parents are not. Or in some cases, one parent might attend worship and take the children, but the other parent might not be faithful. Faithful young people can be a great influence under these circumstances. Through their dedication they can influence a non-Christian or unfaithful parent to seek a closer relationship with Christ.
OBEY
Paul plainly instructed, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right” (Eph. 6:1). This is the primary obligation of a child. In the home, children learn the need to be obedient to those in authority. If this is not learned in the home, then it will be practiced outside the home when it comes to obeying teachers, policemen or even elders in the Lord’s church. If young people do not obey their earthly fathers and mothers, do you suppose they will be determined to obey their heavenly Father?
VALUE
Third, young people must value their parents. This again, is required by inspiration: “Honour thy father and mother...” (Eph. 6:2). To honor denotes the need to respect, appreciate or value. Certainly, respectful children will understand the true value of their parents. In turn, they will treat them with such respect. This will be seen in the way a child addresses his or her parents or in the way a child reacts to a request of his or her parents. Realize, young person, that you owe all you are and all you have to parents who are raising you. Chances are they have made great sacrifices to give you the things than you need. Understand the value of your parents and treat them with the appropriate respect.
ENCOURAGE
Some families are often marred in discouragement because of unruly and disrespectful children. A child that will not obey or respect their parents can be a source of worry and disappointment in the hearts of godly parents. That is why Solomon penned these words: “My son, be wise, and make my heart glad...” (Prov. 27:11). A wise and obedient child will be a source of encouragement to parents who are trying to do what is right. Faithful children can be the proof of faithful and godly parenting. Thus, faithful children can be the very inspiration that parents need to continue their walk for Christ.
When you take the first letter of each of these responsibilities, they spell out the true need for homes today: L - O - V - E. Love is at the heart of each of these responsibilities. Love is the motivation behind obedience and the cure for disrespect. Love for the lost is the reason we seek to influence others to see Christ. Young people, how much do you love your family? More specifically, how much do you love your parents?