Reading:  Ephesians 6: 1-10

Children and Parents

1  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2  "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise),
3  "that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth."
4  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

5  Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ;
6  not in the way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
7  rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to men,
8  knowing that whatever good any one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
9  Masters, do the same to them, and forbear threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

The Whole Armor of God

10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

COMMENTARY

A Christian has to walk faithfully with God, especially in obeying His instructions and commandments.  Often, we overlook or forget His teachings.  In this passage, we are reminded by God that children, parents, slaves and masters should learn to do as instructed by God.

First, we, as children should obey our parents.  One of the Ten Commandments is 'Honor Thy father and mother, that you may have a long, good life in the land the Lord your God will give you.’  As we grow up and look back at the years our parents had brought us up, we would pause for a moment and reflect whether we had honored our parents or not.  Some parents may have passed away and should we feel sad at not having obeyed God’s commandment to honor them.  May we ask for His forgiveness.

Secondly, to those of us who are parents, we are told not to keep on scolding and nagging our children, making them angry and resentful.  Rather, we are told to bring up our children with loving discipline of which the Lord Himself approves.  As we look at our children grow, have we been guilty of constant scolding and nagging or have we been teaching and bringing them up in discipline to God’s commandment.

Thirdly, for those of us who are slaves, or in the present day sense workers or subordinates, we are told to give our very best to our employers or supervisors.  We are advised to serve them as we would serve Christ.  We are reminded to work hard with gladness all the time and not only when the employer or supervisor is around.

And fourthly, to those who are masters, or employers and supervisors, we are told to treat our workers and subordinates right, not threatening them, as we ourselves are slaves for Christ too.  Remember that both slaves and masters have the same Master in Heaven, who shows no favoritism.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Let's sing, "GIVE OF YOUR BEST TO THE MASTER"

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, as children, teach us to honour our parents as you have commanded us.  As parents help us to bring up our children in discipline to the Lord's teachings And as slaves, teach us to obey our masters and for us who are masters, help us to treat our slaves in the right way. Forgive us Lord, if we have disobeyed you and give us strength as we obey your teachings and commandments.