Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee (Exodus 20:12).
Do you desire long life, peace and prosperity? Then honour your parents! According to God’s Word, this is the first commandment with a promise. To honour means to recognize, esteem, accord all due respect, or pay tribute to someone. You must therefore hold your parents in high esteem; recognize their role and value their contributions in your life. Do everything you can to show that you love and appreciate them.
This begins in the way you greet, talk to and address your parents. It’s absolutely wrong for you to be rude or cantankerous to them. Even if you disagree with their point of view, it behooves you to express yourself with humility and respect. Perhaps your parents hurt you or treated you badly, remember the words of the apostle Paul: “Don’t let evil get the upper hand, but conquer evil by doing good” (Romans 12:21 MSG).
If you live with your parents, there are certain things you must do even if they don’t ask for them. You’ve got to go to them and greet them in the mornings and take up some domestic responsibilities; never allow your parents do for themselves the things you ought to do for them. Now if you don’t live with them, there are other things you can do too such as ensuring their welfare. Also, learn to maintain a good relationship and communication with them.
For most people, the same ones that gave birth to them brought them up while for some others, the one that gave birth to them may not be the one that brought them up. Regardless of which category you fall into, you must remember to honour both of them; those who gave birth to you and those who brought you up. The Bible says your days will be long in the earth when you honour your parents. This is an eternal law!
Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for teaching me today to honour my parents. I pray that your wisdom will function in me always to love, recognize and respect them at all times and in all things in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further Study
Deuteronomy 5:16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Mark 7:10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
(Taken by permission from Christ Embassy Church , aka Believer’s LoveWorld Ministries , Lagos, Nigeria. www.ChristEmbassy.org )
