12/08/2026
*_A Child's Only Job: Obey Your Parents in the Lord_*
In a world that tells children to express themselves, follow their hearts, and question all authority, God's Word speaks a simpler and more direct word. A child has one primary job: obey your parents. Not negotiate. Not debate. Not obey only when you agree or when it feels fair. Obey. *"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right"* (Ephesians 6:1). That is the command. No fine print. No escape clause. Just obedience.
The Apostle Paul repeats this instruction in another letter, adding a promise: *"Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord"* (Colossians 3:20). Obedience is not merely a household rule; it is an act of worship. When a child obeys a parent, God is pleased. When a child rebels, God is grieved. The parent stands in the place of authority, and the child's submission to that authority is a direct reflection of their submission to the ultimate Authority.
This command comes with a promise. Paul quotes the Ten Commandments: *"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"* (Ephesians 6:2-3). Obedience is not just right; it is wise. It leads to blessing, stability, and a long life. Disobedience, on the other hand, leads to chaos, heartache, and shortened days. *"The eye that mocks his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it"* (Proverbs 30:17). Strong words for a serious sin.
This does not mean parents are perfect. They are not. But God has placed them in authority over their children, and that authority is to be honored and obeyed—not only when they are right, but because they are the appointed authorities. The only exception is if a parent commands a child to sin. Then, like the apostles, the child must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). But apart from that, the command stands.
So to every child, young or grown: your job is to obey. You do not need a vision for your life. You do not need to find your purpose. Your purpose, for now, is to honor the parents God has given you. Do it cheerfully. Do it promptly. Do it completely. *"Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old"* (Proverbs 23:22). That is your calling. That is your job. Everything else will come in its time.