PARENTHOOD
a divine stewardship

God has also ordained authority in the family. God has established proper relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and masters and servants. I would like to draw our attention to the two books in the Bible that rank the highest in spirituality-Ephesians and Colossians. Both books have two sections. The first section declares spiritual facts, while the second section discusses practical issues of this life. The first section is positive while the second section is negative. In both Epistles of such high standing, there is reference to authority in the family. Both books speak of the relationships between husbands and wives, fathers and sons, and masters and servants. Ephesians 5 and 6 charge us to know authority in the family. According to the divine ordination for the family, the husband should be the authority, and the wife should submit to him. The wife cannot be the authority. Between father and son, the father is the authority. A son may be more educated than the father, but authority still rests with the parents. God has not made children the authority. In the same way, between master and servant, the master is the authority. A servant has to obey his master in all things. Ephesians 6 and Colossians 3 both speak of servants serving their masters as if serving God. The Bible clearly tells us to obey all forms of authority and to be right in our attitude towards them. Wherever we find husbands and wives, parents and children, masters and servants, we find the presence of God's authority....

MEETING AUTHORITY IN THE SYSTEMS ESTABLISHED BY GOD

Every one of us has to touch authority. Otherwise, we run into problems. If a man touches authority, all of his problems will go away. When we realize that all systems of authority are established by God, we have nothing more to say. Some people do not want to submit to their masters, their parents, or their brothers and sisters. Some wives do not want to submit to their husbands. Some people excuse their disobedience by saying that their masters are too poor or that their husbands or brothers are not worthy of their submission. Some children, who have graduated from universities, think that their parents are too old-fashioned. They think they know more than their parents. This becomes an excuse for not obeying their parents. Many people have problems with other men. If we look around, we will find that many people are asking these questions. Everyone who has not touched authority has these kinds of problems. Some wives despise their husbands; they even fight with their husbands. Some children disobey their parents and argue with them. Some servants ignore or argue with their masters when they cannot submit to them. Some ignore the law when they face corrupt officers or unjust legislation. But whether or not our husband, our parents, or our representatives in the government are evil is none of our business. If we have touched authority, we will not criticize them. The whole issue rests on whether or not we have touched authority. Once we have touched authority, these problems are no longer problems. If a person sees only men, he cannot be of any use to the Lord. We have to realize that the systems of authority established among human society are established and ordained by God.
Watchman Nee, The Collected Works, Set 3, Vol. 59, pp. 125-139

APPLICATION

1. Why does brother Nee say, "A command from a deputy authority deserves as much attention as a direct command from God"?

2. Explain how Eve's disobedience to God's commandment broke the relationship between God and man.

3. Why do we have to realize that the systems of authority established among human society are established and ordained by God?