Obedience, Which Comes From Respect

 

Ephesians 6:1-3

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother – which is the first commandment with a promise – so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

 

 

1

As you know, today is Father’s Day. So, to begin with, let me ask you a couple of questions. Let us make one thing clear. When I ask something, I really ask you. Please feel free to share your thoughts on my questions. 

 

2

My first question is very very simple. What is Father’s Day?  Alright, now I think that we are all on the same page when it comes to the meaning or purpose of Father’s Day. 

Father’s Day is a day to remember our father’s love and sacrifice for us. 

 

3

My second question is very very practical. What did you do today for your father? 

It seems that you guys gave your father some special presents with a card on which “I Love You Dad!” is written. Now, with those two things in mind, let us read today’s Bible. It is Ephesians 6:1-3.

 

4

Interestingly enough, the author of the book Ephesians does not ask you to buy something, write a letter for your father on Father’s Day. He did not either ask you to say to your father “I love you” with a big hug. Instead, he straightforwardly says: “Obey your father and mother.” Do you obey your father and mother?

 

5

When I was a kid like you, I thought that my father was one of the strongest guys in the world. When he came back home from work, he often put his arms around me, lifted me up, and tossed me into the air as much as I wanted. In his arms, I could imagine myself as a Superman or Spiderman. I also thought that he was the richest guy in the world because he bought me what I wanted. Of course, not all of them. I also thought that he was the smartest guy in the world because he knew everything I did not know. However, when I became a teenager, I came to realize that there are a number of guys who are stronger, smarter, and richer than my father. It broke my heart. Well, I decided to ignore and leave him, and make myself stronger, smarter, and richer than he. 

 

6

As time went by, I married a woman whom I deeply love. A few years later, I became the father of our two sons Jinu and Minu. They will join us on the first Sunday of July. Before they do it, you know, I want to share with you two secrets about my relationship with them. One is good; the other is bad. Which one do you like to hear first? Let me tell you the bad thing first. The bad thing is that Jinu, our first son, 10, is slowly realizing that his father, that is me, is not the strongest guy in the world, not the smartest guy in the world, and not the richest guy in the world. Because of what I did to my father, I expect that in a few years, Jinu also might decide to make his own life like I did 20 years ago.

 

7
Guys, trust me! You all grow up very quickly. Soon you all will be grown-ps like your parents and teachers. The author of Ephesians says: “Obey your parents. If you do it well, life will go smoothly with you and you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Here obedience does not mean that you have to follow every single command from your parents. Here, ‘obedience’ means ‘respect.’ On Father’s Day, please remember that your father was once, like you boys, a boy. The boy still lives in his heart. On Mother’s Day, please remember that your mother was once, like you girls, a girl. The girl still lives in her heart. When you see your father and mother not as adults, but as a really old boy and a really old girl, you can treat them differently. You can obey them with respect. Why? Your parents, the boy and the girl are doing amazing things you never think you will do, only for you.  

 

Prayer

Lovely God, today is Sunday and Father’s Day. In this worship, we took a moment to think of the boy we call father. They always look tired. They always say no when we ask them to play with us. They frequently lose temper with us although we don’t do something wrong. But, God, thank you for helping us understand that father was also once a boy like us at present. He needs a break. He needs a play time. He needs good friends. Please help us to keep this in mind whenever father does something wrong to us without a reason. We pray in your name Jesus Christ. Amen.