“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Eph. 6:1). Paul describes this command as being based upon the first commandment with promise. That promise says, “…that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth” (Eph. 6:3; cf. Deut. 5:16). If we had simply listened to and honored the wisdom of our parents throughout our lives, how many troubles and trials could we have avoided? Granted, not all parental advice is the wisest, since parents are not always wise. Yet, when parental wisdom mirrors God’s wisdom, we can take that advice to the bank! Parental instruction is not meant to control the child’s life, as is often expressed in the immature and sometimes foolish thinking of youth (and we have all been young once and foolish more often). Parental instruction, sourced from love, is that it may be well with us and help us live long on the earth. Clearly, the admonition here is for both children and parents, as every child has a parent and every parent was once a child. Even, where there are no parents, there is a Father in heaven who loves us most dearly. Obey Him, and see where His promises take you.