The Omaha guide., 1946-08-10


NAV Be long r1r- t1c ta~' -nir- --f
Lord thy God glvetl ree.----s1--s - a.
Home-that place 50 dear to thr
heart Of each one Ct Isls e..
more preciour III TIE sight q G11
he is concerned about Cur hCmc
and those who lire in them
Right relationship between CT.
dren ard parents have much tl q
with the peace and prosperity OF 3
community and q nati-n. Exrer
ence has demonstrated that % ~
true, but even more base Is th-
fact that II is in accord with ths
proaniss of God.
Oce % the sad breskd lwrs i-
modern life is that Of proper non
and obedience 70 parents BY chill
dren. In al too many homes God s
order has been reversed and II.
stead Of honorirg and obeying their
parents. children tBoth young and
oid) have taken the place Of boss. ="
and mother and father must obey
If they want peace and rest.
The pBoblem Of juvenile delin-
qusncy. OF perhaps We should say
more correctly. parental delinuusn.
c.. is right on our doorsteps now
That means that the need for orr
lesson is both great and acute. The
future happiness Of hundreds Of
thousands Of children and the pres
elt welfare Of thousands Of neglect
ed and boss-ridden parents viii de-
pend O. the intelligence and faith
fulness Sith which this lesson is
taught In our churches. and the hon
esy of heart with which We ali re-
ceive its truth.
i. The Responsibility Stated
(ExOd. 2O:I2).
Honor thy father and thy moth
er'-Aow good. and substantial. and
rG1t those words sound.
We are told by Paul that this is
the FIRST commandment with prom
ise" Eph. SID. The Lord was
not n.sking a bargain with man. OF
seeking TO draw out obedience by 9
Prize. but there is obviously a great
reward m the observing Of this com
RandmeRt
Ttea 700 IS the children OF God
ff We are Slch) through Jesus
ChnlsS. tie first and most important
t -ra'i-n 10 or ,-i5r= US is.
V-t-l Is the mind and iii OF the
Maker q Us all regarding this mat
ter a the relationship between par
ents and children2 His words are
plain We are 70 honor" our IA
theirs ard our mothers.
TE'e word honor" carries with il
great many things, but per-
haps the three outztanding elements
are respect. obedience and affection.
But men do net wish TO follow
Gods direction. so we see next
81 The Responsibility Evaded
CLARK 1919.
~lch sl important commandment
naturally held a high place in the
thinking os the community. To vio-
late j; involved 3 measure Of shame
which men sought 70 avoid So the
Jews of Christs day devised a
scheme which made it possible for
man 70 appear to be very religious
even rs ne deprived his parents Of
the hCrrr and help to which they
were e-t-led BY the law Of God.
TIE man VINO did not wish TO sup
port MS aged and needy parents
corli entirely evzds that given
respoos ibiiiy by declaring that his
property was "Corban": that IS.
dedicated by a vow 10 God. There
after no matter how great was the
need OF MS parents they could re-
ceise nothing. and yel ne could keep
1t and use il for himself.
thus DO men make the word Of
Coo u none effect ~. I3) through
tncr traditions. The method differs
BIT tae spirit persists even in
CIR day
Jesus made short work OF such
trickery and evasion. He declared
their man-made creeds and tradi.
t!ons 10 be simply a means Of max.
i7g the command OF God OF none
effect Once more he condemns that
formal religious observance which
serves as a cloak for sin and
selhshness.
I'LL The Responsibility Fulfilled
luke 2.5l-sz: Eph- SID.
The manner in which children
should be obedient to their parents
and honor them In the home is beau
tlfuIly exemplihed in the life Of our
Lord. living as a boy in Nazareth.
In the home the growing youth
finds the best place for normal. wen.
rounded development Cv. so. There
is 10 substitute for the home.
The words Of the Holy Spirit
through Paul In Ephesians 6:I-s
stress the same truth and enlarge
Up. Ill
Tnis matter Of honoring and obey-
ing parents lis right" says Paul.
L IS ne Lords way. but il is also
that ~nlch commends itself tc ev-
cry r.gat-thinking person.
There rs tremendously important
truth on the other side Of the pic
t-re- Parents are not to provoke
their children 10 anger, to disre-
spect pr disobedience.
Nay God help Us who are parents
that we may take TO heart this part
OF our lesson Our children are our
most valuable possession