How to Have a Long Life

The secret for a good family relationship doesn't conclude in having a good husband and wife relationship. As we know, a family includes parents and their children. Parents-Children relationship is discussed in the first part of chapter 6.

Ephesians 6:1-3 of the New International Version (NIV) says (1) Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. (2) "Honor your father and your mother "- which is the first commandment with promise- (3) "That it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth."

The preceding verses happened to be my daughter's first memory verse when she was three years old. They have to recite the said verse on their presentation for our church anniversary. And so I used the opportunity to use our review time to teach her the significance of the said verse. Simply because I want her to be obedient and to claim the promise of God, that is to have a long life on earth and enjoy all the good things in life. I want her to grow with respect to God and to us as her parents. This also serves as her reminder whenever she refuses to obey me.

But this verse may mean more than a reminder for headstrong children. Furthermore, to "obey" also means to "submit". Children should submit to their parents' authority out of reverence to Christ. (refer to Ephesians 5:21)

Also we should note that the first sin committed by man is "disobedience". When the first couple, Adam and Eve, ate the forbidden fruit, they disobey God's instruction. Thus, they die spiritually. They disregarded their right to live a long life. (Genesis chapter 3) We can see that "to obey" is so important to God. He values our obedience more than anything.

Why gain a reward by merely obeying our parents? One reason is that our parents would mean no harm to us, their children. They would do anything to keep us away from any harm. Parents would provide us everything to feed, clothe and protect us. As a result, it increases the possibility for us to have a long life, declining the risk of diseases and death.

Another reason, which I see the key here, is that our parents are the direct authority chosen by God to be responsible for our every action. The love of the Heavenly Father is always compared to the love our earthly parents could give. As we obey our earthly parents, we also obey our Heavenly Father.

Likewise, parents should live with great value and be examples of Godly living. The Bible recorded Enoch's son, Methuselah as to live the longest; who lived 969 years and then he died (Refer to Gen 5:27 NIV). Genesis 5:24 (NIV) tells us that "Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away." Enoch didn't experience death. And he could have even live longer than his son, Methuselah, if Enoch was not taken away.

Ephesians 6:4 (NIV) addresses the "Fathers do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in training and instruction of the Lord."

Parents play a major role of raising children to help them enjoy long life here on earth. For without their godly instructions these children would not understand the value of life and would not want to have long life on earth as well. And so this is just a cycle, raise your own children well that they may live long. Teach them the value of life, and introduce them to the Source of Life, then these children would want a "long life" on earth with you as parents for the glory of God.