Who's Responsible for Honor?

It's always great when something you've read multiple times catches you in a fresh way.  I read through the whole of Ephesians a few days ago, and the whole book grabbed my attention - it's a great read, I'd recommend it.  

I want to focus on one part of it.  It's the part all parents love to read... out loud... to their kids... as often as possible!

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

So the kid gets to obey and honor - that's their responsibility, and then life will go well for them.

Great, right?

But hold on a moment.  What kid, left to their own devises is going to grow up obeying and honoring their parents?  Anyone who's ever had a 2 year old knows that's just not going to happen.  

How often do we read those verses and overlook the second half of verse 4? We are told to bring up our kids with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Our kids, whether they are 2 or 15, are not going to obey and honor us if we haven't taught them to do so.  That is OUR responsibility, not theirs.

If we want our kids to have a long life that goes well for them - we need to take responsibility for bringing them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Teach them well, empower them to choose obedience and honor, that it may go well for them.