Teens everywhere are constantly wishing they had more freedom. They want their parents to allow them to do more. The desire for responsibility is a good thing, but sometimes it turns into rebellion when you don’t think you’re getting it quickly enough.
When your parents see rebellion in you, they do the exact opposite of what you want them to do: They clamp down.
To get your parents to let you do what you want, you must honor them.
Why honor them?
It was God’s Plan from the Beginning
God created Adam and Eve and told them to “…Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Gen. 1:28). That included their kids. God put the parents, not the kids, in charge of the family.
Imagine what it would have been like of Cain and Abel were in charge in the beginning!
A lot of the problems in our homes today (even Christian homes) have to do with the fact that kids run the house in many ways. They boss their parents around or manipulate them in other ways. When this happens, the order of how things should be run gets reversed. The results are confusion and tension in the family.
Let’s say, for example, Susie asks mom if she can go to the ball game on Friday night. Mom says, “No, you got a bad grade on your history test this week, you need to stay home that night and study.”
So Susie goes to ask Dad and he says, “You are my little girl, of course you can go.”
Mom walks by Susie’s room on Friday night as she gets ready to go and she says, “I thought I told you that you couldn’t go.” Susie responds, “Dad said I could.” Mom goes to talk to Dad about it, and a fight explodes as Susie is walking out the door.
This is a simple example of how teens manipulate their parents to get their own way. They create confusion and tension in the home and then wonder why they don’t ever want to just hang around the house.
There are a lot of other ways of trying to manipulate Mom and Dad; from whining, to crying, to threatening, to being openly rebellious. I know that not all the tension in a home is created by the teen, but surely some can be avoided by treating our parents with respect.
Romans 13:1-2 says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”
If you ever have wondered why things don’t seem to be going right in your life, check to see if you are bringing judgment on yourself by not honoring your parents.
It’s like Adam and Eve were the kind and queen over the earth. They were to raise princes and princesses on the earth who would:
• Be responsible,
• Be smart,
• Know how to think,
• Be sober,
• Be obedient to God,
• Make wise decisions,
• Be able to govern and lead others, and
• Have a broad perspective on life.
Your parents have the same mandate: to raise you as a prince or princess, ready to govern skillfully when you are of age. God gave them this responsibility. That is why it is so important to honor your parents.
There are Great Advantages to Honoring Your Parents
Ephesians 6:2-3 says, “‘Honour your father and mother’ – which is the first commandment with a promise – ‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'”
God promises that if you honor your parents, He will blow you away by blessing your life for a long, long time. The blessing and favor of the Lord are on your side when you honor them.
You can be sure you are on the right track to fulfilling all your potential if you stay submissive to the authority that God gave your parents.
Myths About Maturity In Christ by Ron Luce.
Excerpt permission granted by Albury Publishing
Ron Luce was the co-founder and president of Teen Mania Ministries from 1986-2015. Ron and his wife Katie dreamed to raise young people who would change the world.
Ron received his bachelor's degree in Psychology and Theology from Oral Roberts University and his master's in Counseling Psychology from the University of Tulsa, along with an honorary doctorate from Jerry Falwell of Liberty University. He is a sought-after speaker who has traveled to more than 60 countries and has made numerous media appearances, such as Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family radio broadcast, CNN, The O'Reilly Factor, ABC Nightline, The 700 Club, Trinity Broadcasting Network, and the Sean Hannity Show. Ron has also written 35 books for teens, youth pastors, and parents and continues to speak at leaders' conferences helping parents and pastors understand the plight of today's youth and showing them how all of us can be part of the solution.
Ron and Katie currently live in Garden Valley, Texas, with their son Cameron. They have two daughters, Hannah and Charity.