Honor Your Father & Mother
by Tamra Lee
A child that was continually rebelling against his parents was to be taken out and stoned by the entire nation! (Leviticus 24:10-16, etc.)
Adults can honor their parents by loving attention: notes of encouragement & appreciation, remembering birthdays & Fathers & Mothers Days, considering a parent's counsel, pray for them, etc.
If the parent is faithful to Christ, Christian adults can pray with their parents & seek out godly advice. Walking with Christ for many years imparts wisdom; and we should avail ourselves to it.
Furthermore, we find this command from God to honor our parents as an overall command to honor all who are in authority over us: law enforcers, government officials, employers, teachers, and church leaders (pastors, elders & deacons).
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resists the authority, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves condemnation." (Romans 13:1,2)
"Obey those that have rule over you, & submit yourselves: for they watch over your souls, as those that must give account, that they may do it with joy, & not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." (Heb. 13:17)
This is the kind of honor & obedience God requires of us: to have respect in our hearts, words and actions for those in charge over us. Further, we need to give faithful prayer on behalf of those who lead us: for wisdom from the Lord that they make wise decisions, & for their salvation if they do not know Christ.
Rather than a grudging obedience of barely doing what we are told, we need to seek to work well; remembering that it is actually Jesus Christ whom we are serving! (Eph. 6:5-8)
Ours is not blind obedience, refusing to acknowledge sin if we see it in our "superiors." Neither do we use submission as an excuse to sin. Rather, we cheerfully do what is right even if they disapprove; & we pray for opportunity to show them the love & truth of Jesus Christ. (See: Matt. 7:1-5; 1 Tim. 5:1, 17-20; Daniel 1-3 & 6)
If God gives us a place of authority over others (being parents, teachers, leaders, etc.) we must rule with gentleness, respect & love. We must not yield our authority with pride, wanting to be made to look good, yet actually being lazy & eager for recognition. (Eph. 6:4; Prov. 29:15; 1 Pet. 2:14; 1 Pet. 3:7, etc.)
In all things we are to glorify our Father in heaven by loving leadership and loving submission to those in authority over us.
This Father's Day, take time to thank someone who has watched after your soul; one who has guarded & guided you away from evil and towards righteousness. It might be a parent, a chaplain or a friend who has "fathered' you.
For the love & glory of God: Honor your father and mother!
Personal Note:
You kids all know that your mother comes from a family that always sends a card to each other on all the special occasions especially their birthday and father day/mothers day.I am proud to say I am sure I have never missed a one, not even when I was carelessly and selfishly living out in California. I know the joy it brings my parents that we kids love and honor them at least that much to take the time . Your own Pop sent his father a card for Fathers Day and his father has not ever sent him a card.That takes a big man to do that when his own parents have not ever done anything like that for him! That is what God means about living out your Christianity! Your Pop and I sacrificed A LOT for you kids to get through the years and he himself has taken little. If you hate the Hallmark thing (although its just another company as is the groceries you buy) take the time to make a card. A phone call just doesn't get it,its just not enough! A card with postage is approx. $5.00 is that spending "too much" on someone who spent so much time and money on you?
God says to honor your parents...honor is a big responsibility look it up! I would say that I have sometimes thought of my husband as a lesser Christian than some as he doesn't enjoy church going but he is honoring God in a much greater way in that he is taking the time and money to visit his father(he has been by himself ,6 hrs drive several time since we moved here) and sent him a Fathers Day card. It took time to pick it out,time to sign it in a special way and address the envelope and to get it in the mail before the Day arrived. He did it himself and I really admire the BIG heart that he had to do it.
From our view the fact that some of you take this lightly or may get angry for me writing this shows us your Christian walk is extremely weak.
7 comments:
Well let's not get carried away here. Fathers day is not exactly a biblical institution. And greeting cards are largely over-rated commercial nonsense. The Christian ones are typically the worst, chock full of exactly the kind of shallow Christianity that a serious Christian would be keen to avoid. I don't care for cards at all. Please don't feel the need to send them to me. Letters are nice, but if you can make a free phone call or email, that's even better. And I would be honored if you gave the 5 bucks you saved to a homeless person who needs something to eat.
i agree with luke, cards are over-rated.i would much rather hear someones voice on the phone and talk to them instead of a one sided message in a card.
i know you feel strongly about this mom and thats fine but don't make all of us feel like we have to send a card or you are going to be mad at us that really kinda takes the meaning out of it too don't you think. i try to remember to send you guys cards but life is busy and i always at least call so don't be mad at me.
I seriously debated whether to reply to this or not. If I did reply I wanted it to be rational and not emotional. Maybe that is why I waited a couple days.
I guess I would first like to say that this did feel a little like a reprimand even if it was not intended to be such. The fact that this was posted on the night of Father's day and reproved us for not sending a card was extremely pretentious. Would you not have felt badly if everyone's cards came the next day? Did I send a card? No. Does that mean that I don't care about Pop. In my mind, no. In your mind, I guess that is a yes. I am of Luke's and Julia's opinion that I would rather the money go to something a little more practical.
I also take issue (not offense) at the statement that one who does not send a card somehow shows his parents dishonor and brands them as a poor Christian. I don't think you can show dishonor by NOT doing something. I suppose dishonor can be felt even if it was not intentionally given. If that was the case I am sorry. I am not too proud to apologize, but I have never claimed to be the world's greatest Christian and will be the first to tell you that I am full of faults. Did not Christ say that all of our righteousness is as filthy rags, anyway. How silly to boast about our filthy rags! Do I appreciate it when someone sends me a card or calls me? Of course! Do I fault them for not sending me a card or take mental note of who did and who didn't send something? Of course not! That should be completely volitional and not an expected action. Of what value is it if it is always expected?
I'm glad that my security (peace of mind/happiness) is not based in any person (including myself, my family, my pastor, the current or future president). It is not in any institution (including the Baptist church or the U.S. government). People can and do disappoint. Institutions can and do disappoint. I disappoint myself on a regular basis. My security must of necessity be based on the written Word of God and the Living Word, Jesus. They will NEVER fail! If any earthly influence fails me, I may be saddened, but I must not be discouraged. A weak faith is any faith that is grounded in something other than God's Word. Come what may, with God's help, I will not be moved. My Anchor holds. The Bible stands. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. John 1:14(KJV)
gosh, i hope i don't get stoned by the nation.
One other quick point. A lot of "revised" scripture was used to imply that parents are still an authority after one has "left the nest". I disagree completely with that implication. The Bible says that a man is to "leave and cleave". Is he still to show respect and honor towards his parents? Absolutely! Without question. Is he still under their authority? Absolutely not. God knew that a home must be autonomous and very wisely designed the "leave and cleave" principle, because He knew the troubles that could arise if the man never learned to stand on his own.
The fact that most of us live too far apart to get together to give love and honor to each other makes it more important to me to receive and give cards,e-cards,homemade cards etc.As it was with my Mom, Dad and siblings. I am sure you get together with your spouse's family for their birthdays or fathers day or whatever. So please don't make me feel weird for feeling this way!
I really didn't mean for this to be a reprimand just a suggestion of what would make us feel appreciated. I'm not mad at any of you just hurt. A phone call is better than nothing but there is something special about a card. We often are hard to get a hold of as the two of us work and spend a lot of our free time outside so then we may be tired when you call and not feel like talking.
I love you all. Please try to understand my point of view.
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