16 BECAUSE YOU “SAY SO” DOESN’T MAKE IT SO;
BECAUSE GOD “SAYS SO” MAKES IT SO.

Dr. Spock is not the ultimate authority on parenting. Nor is Dobson or any other person. The ultimate authority on parenting is God. God is our Father.

Our authority does not rest in our role or our position. God gives us an awesome responsibility for training up children. But that responsibility does not make us the final word on what a child should or shouldn’t do.

“Daddy, why do I have to do that?” asked the child.

“Because I said so,” responded the father.

No, our authority rests in the Lord who says what’s right and wrong. Once we anchor ourselves in God, we have authority behind our answers. Without God, all we have is human opinion and reason.

For example, try saying this: “Child, the reason I insist that your room must be kept clean is because God is a God of order. He is always pure, clean and orderly.” We must begin teaching about the character and nature of God early. True, the child will not fully understand what we are saying. But the teaching will begin early and will stay consistent.

Not only do we expect our child to be orderly based on God’s character, we also maintain our room and homes in an orderly and clean fashion. We are subject to the same authority as our children.

When our children see our lives line up with our teaching about God, then they will develop both a respect for and understanding of God and us.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether (Ps. 19:6–9). Action Steps I/We Need to Take