TO HONOR THEM IS TO HONOR HIM
Jonathan Lindsay
Today’s Scripture: “Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” Proverbs 23:22, ESV
Theme: To honor your parents means choosing God-honoring attitudes and actions, whether the relationship is healthy, broken, or anything in between.
HILLS AND VALLEYS
There are ups and downs in all relationships, and the relationship between parents and children is no different. When we are young, we depend on our parents to provide for our every need. As we grow older, we see the good, the bad, and the ugly in each other. Relationships can become strained, distant, or even completely disconnected.
I love my parents. They are both gone now, but I remember all the good that I saw in them through the years. In my mind, my early childhood couldn’t have been better. The bad and the ugly? Don’t even get me started. They fought like cats and dogs and divorced after 24 years of marriage. They both spent much of the rest of their lives miserable. My dad even became a hermit, like the “drop everything, move into the secluded woods, live off the grid, and almost forget how to talk” kind of hermit. There was a very long season where honoring my parents did not come easily for me. But some of the best adult memories I have of my parents came during the last years of their lives as I cared for them through illness (thankfully not at the same time).
NO QUALIFICATIONS
We all have different relationships with our parents. For some, honor comes easily. But there are others who don’t feel their parents deserve to be honored.
Today’s scripture doesn’t say to “listen to your father if he has earned your respect.” It doesn’t say “don’t despise your mom unless she deserves it.” It isn’t a suggestion to honor our parents. It is a commandment given to us from God. Just as God has no qualifications for loving us as His children, we are commanded to honor our parents unconditionally.
HONORING GOD
We do not deserve God’s love and mercy, but He calls us His children anyway. He is the perfect Father and deserves all honor and glory. He commands us to honor our parents for our own good. Whether it feels natural or seems like a daunting task, by honoring our parents, we are honoring God.
Make It Personal: Does honoring your parents come easily for you? What about your in-laws? (Yes, even them.) In what ways do you honor your parents? What would your kids say if they were asked about how you honor your parents? Where is an area you could grow in your actions or attitude towards your parents?
What if the thought of honoring your parents is challenging for you? We know God has a perfect plan. He chose your parents to bring you into this world. That is at least one thing that they got right. God knows your heart and has been with you since the beginning. Do you think God wants you to honor your parents for their benefit or for yours? What are ways, even if small, that you can honor God by showing you are trying to honor your parents? Maybe it starts with a simple prayer.
Pray: Father God, thank You for loving me. Thank You for forgiving my sins and walking with me in good times and bad. God, You know my heart. Help me to see the ways that I can honor my parents. I know that You have a perfect plan and use everything for good. Help me to use my story to be a light for others. Thank You for my parents. God, I pray for the healing of minds and hearts for those that need it. I pray for the mending of relationships and for grace for those that are struggling. And Father God, I pray for comfort for those that no longer have their parents with them. I pray all these things in Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen.
Read: Romans 8:28, Deuteronomy 5:16, Matthew 15:4
Weekly Memory Verse:
“Listen to your father who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.” Proverbs 23:22, ESV