Children should attend to the faithful instruction of their parents: “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother; for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy heart, and chains about thy neck.” Prov. 1:8, 9. “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father.” Prov. 4:1. “My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother.” Prov. 6:20. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right.” If it is right to obey, it is wrong to disobey. Many children do not have a due regard for the instruction of the father and mother. They oftentimes think they know more than their parents and so follow their own ways without natural affection.
Children should imitate the example of righteous parents, but are commanded not to walk in the footsteps of the unholy: “But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your [pg 284] fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols.” Ezek. 20:18.
One important duty of children is to care for the parents. If the parents become old and feeble, or the mother a widow, the Word of God places children under the obligation of caring for them. “But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.”
Duties Of Masters To Servants.
Masters are commanded to forbear threatening their servants: “And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, [servants], forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him.” Eph. 6:9.
In our land the days of slavery are no more, but men and women have their hired man and maid servant. Their duty toward such servants is to treat them with kindness, not to threaten them, or treat them in an overbearing, authoritative manner because they are servants. Be as kind and mild and respectful to them as to the children of the rich, for God is no respecter of persons.
Masters should give unto their servants that which is just and right for their labor done. If a man's labor is well worth two dollars per day, but because he is needy (or for any cause) and must work at any price, you take advantage of him and give him but [pg 285] one dollar, you are a dim light in the world. In truth your light has gone out, and your deeds have become darkness. “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal: knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.” These words. “Knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven,” are contained also in Eph. 6:9, where masters are commanded to forbear threatening. They are intended to impress the master with his obligation of dealing with his servants in the fear of God, before whom he must some day appear and give an account for the deeds done in the body, or in this life.
The rich man's fraudulent deeds toward his servants is taken account of in heaven: “Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.” Jas. 5:4.
Duty Of Servants To Their Masters.
Servants should honor and respect their masters: “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.” 1 Tim. 6:1. Especially are they to reverence them if they are believers: “And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit.” 1 Tim. 6:2.