Ephesians 6:1-4
R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Aretha Franklin made popular a song written by Otis Redding. “I got to have a little respect.”
Dads, it is our responsibility to provide for our families. But, we can’t get so distracted by putting food on the table and teaching our sons to play ball or our daughters to hunt that we forget to teach some of the basic virtues they need in life in order to please Jesus Christ and to be successful.
Let’s talk about respect.
DEFINITION OF RESPECT:
“Respect” is defined as a “deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities or achievements.” That’s the meaning of the word “honor” here in our text: Ephesians 6:1. Children respect their parents with a “deep admiration” for them because of who they are. When children are little, they do not and cannot respect their parents for their knowledge, ability, achievements, etc. But they can respect their parents for their role of authority. Teenagers also have to respect the role of Mom and Dad as the authority figures in the home.
Respect is a total lifestyle, a total package.
REQUIRE RESPECT:
Take a look at Leviticus 19:2-3: “Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. ‘Every one of you shall reverence his mother and his father.” If God requires such a high level of holiness in our homes, then we need to take this seriously and demand our children respect those people they need to respect.
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ESTABLISH RESPECT:
First, teach respect for God. If we will teach our children to respect God, then the fifth commandment (honoring mom and dad) will flow naturally. If you will study the Bible frequently yourself, God’s teachings will come out in your daily conversation with your child. If your heart and mind are saturated with God’s words, then your mouth and speech will also be saturated. Teach your children the Bible so they will grow to respect God.
Explain God’s chain of command. God sent Jesus who sent the Holy Spirit, who inspired the apostles to write God’s commands down in the Bible. The Bible gives dads the highest responsibility in the home but moms have equal authority over the children.
SHOW RESPECT:
Dads, you are not going to teach me how to rebuild an engine if you have never done it before yourself. You might have the “head knowledge,” but if you haven’t actually done it yourself, then you will not be a very effective teacher. Demonstrate respect.
While respect is required on one hand, it is also earned. If we walk with the Spirit and exhibit Christ-likeness in our lives, then it will be easy and natural for our children to have a respectful attitude. You know that the multitudes of Jews respected Jesus Christ. To the degree that we walk with Christ and imitate His manners and attitudes toward others, to that degree, our children will also respect us.
So, men – how do you “model” respect at home? Teach your children to respect you, your wife, others, and God.
–Paul Holland
