SOME SINS OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS
Raymond Elliott
In the book of Ecclesiastes 11:9-11 the preacher wrote an exhortation that is much needed today for our young people: “Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh, For childhood and youth are vanity” (NKJV). There are some prevalent and prominent sins to be found among some young men and women that need to be exposed and examined. Following are a few of such shortcomings.
Generally speaking there is a lack of reverence and respect for parents. Piety (respect) should be learned and practiced first in the home (I Timothy 5:4). The apostle Paul taught that children should “Honor your father and mother” (Ephesians 6:1-3). The lack of respect for parents will bring on another transgression, that is, a failure to obey parental authority. Before there can be obedience there has to be the recognition of the father as being the rightful head of the home. If this relationship is not properly understood children will not obey their parents. Of course, there would be exceptions where the father is dead, absent from the home or should a father absolutely refuse to discipline the children. In every age God has placed the husband (father) as being the rightful head and leader of the family unit. This is, no doubt, the reason why Paul specified the father in Ephesians 6:4 when he wrote: “And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” The Bible teaches that children are to obey their parents: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1). Even Jesus was in subjection to His earthly parents (Luke 2:51). The sin of being “disobedient to parents” is listed among such sins as “fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder” (Romans 1:28-32, ASV).
There is a great need today for proper discipline in the home. Certainly there is the positive aspect of discipline which involves teaching and training; however, there is the corrective side which should be administered when disobedience occurs among sons and daughters. This disciplinary action may come in various forms. But it must be done in order to establish and maintain respect for parental authority in the home. The wise man wrote in Proverbs 13:24: “He who spares his rod hates his son; but he who loves him disciplines him promptly (early).” There is still a need for some ‘hickory tea’ to be applied to the lower part of a child’s anatomy even in our modern age. The Lord God chastises His children out of love and earthly fathers should do the same in order to manifest their love for their children (Hebrews 12:5-9). Pity the poor children who never receive any correction from their parents. These same young people may grow up with emotional problems because of the lack of discipline in the home. Children should realize that discipline is proof of their parents’ love and concern for them. The basic reason for the lack of respect for authority in our schools and elsewhere can be traced directly to the breakdown of the proper training in the home. If a child does not learn respect and obedience in the home it is unlikely that it will be learned anywhere
In this age of plenty and prosperity there seems to be a lack of gratitude for parents and the material blessings. One of the prevalent sins of the Gentiles as mentioned in Romans 1:21 was “although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful…” Parents have unknowingly contributed to this sin of ingratitude. Many fathers and mothers were reared when times were hard. The attitude that “I want my child to have all the things that I didn’t have” can actually be detrimental in the rearing of children. Too many physical and material blessings bestowed upon children can produce a lack of gratitude among the young people. Certainly, sons and daughters should express both my actions and words their thankfulness to parents who have provided for them the daily necessities and even the luxuries of life.
Some young people are not always honest with their parents. For example a son may tell his parents that he is going to one place some evening while planning to go elsewhere. A young lady may inform her parents that she and her date were at a place of entertainment when actually they were in a different location. Young people need to deal honestly with their fathers and mothers. The Bible teaches that God hates “a lying tongue” (Proverbs 6:17). Paul instructed Christians in this manner: “Do not lie one to one another” (Colossians 3:9). The final abiding place for all liars is “in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone” (Revelation 21:8). If young folk demand truth and honesty from adults they must understand that the same is required and expected of them.
Finally, young people need to understand that the decision to do right or wrong is eventually theirs to make. Sure, parents are to teach and train children in the way of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6); but, in the final analysis, the young man and woman must be responsible for the decision either to stand for the right or submit to sin. Simply possessing the proper knowledge of what is right and what is wrong is not conviction. It is when one is really put to the test and is able to resist evil and to do right that one’s true convictions are seen. This is an individual matter. When one has been properly taught and still commits wrong, one should not then blame someone else for the deed done. Young people should count the cost and be willing to live with the decision made, whether it is be right or wrong. A lack of maturity will cause one to habitually blame parents for mistakes made when the decision is left up to the son or daughter.
Of course, the Lord wants sons and daughters to “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth…” (Ecclesiastes 12:2). It is wonderful to know of young people who obey their Savior and dedicate their lives to God who loved them enough to give His only begotten Son to die on Calvary for the sins of the world (John 3:16).