Both the Old and New Testaments agree that children have only one responsibility in the family--to obey their parents.  THe admonition of Solomon is more fully experienced by Paul in Ephesians 6:1-3: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth."  Children is an inclusive term.  It is not a matter of either sex or age that is involved.

 

Twice in Scripture God had intervened and directly stated what He would have childern do.  The last time was nearly two thousand years ago when He gave a revelation to Paul for the church.  The first time was nearly thirty-four hundred years ago when He gave a revelation to Paul for the church.  The first time was nearly thirty-four hundred years ago when He gave a revelation to Moses and Israel in which He commanded, "Honour thy father and thy mother."  God's will for children is that they are to obey their parents.  The expression in the Lord does not limit the responsibility only to the circumstances where the parents are believers.  Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.  This clearly points out that children are to obey their parents "in all things," not just in those things pretainng to Christian living. In the Lord more properly is understood to mean by the Lord or because it is the Lord's directive (this is what God says children are to do).  For this is right indicates that for children to obey their parents is righteous or godlike.  Such obedience is perfectly illustrated by God the Son who was completely obedient to God the Father, even though that obedience resulted in His death. Philippians 2:5-10  Have this mind amony yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he ws in the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  ANd being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

 

Two things are promised to children who obey their parents:  it will be well with them--they will have a happy life; and they will have a long life.  These are the two things that children want most, and obedience to parents is the only way to assure them.  That is why this is the first commandment with promise; from it springs all other important issues of life.  The child who has not learned to obey his parents, who are God's representatives in the family, will not learn to obey God.