Honor Parents

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you." -Exodus 20.12

The first four commandments deal with man's relationship with God, but here with commandment five there is a transition to man's relationship with one another. The first commandment in this section deals with the first human relationship every person has, honor your father and mother. When we do there is the promise of long life in the land that God gives the people.

It is important to note that it says honor, not obey. There comes a time when we no longer have to obey our parents. At 27, and living on my own, my parents can no longer tell me what to do. They can give advice and offer suggestions, but since I'm an adult who is on my own, I am not required by God to obey them. But I am called to honor them. So what does that mean?

Honoring is living in a way that does not bring shame to your parents. It is living as a law abiding citizen who contributes to the good of society. We can honor our parents always, even if they are no longer here, and it is something that God has commanded us to do.

Men, are you honoring your father and mother? Are you living in a way that does not cause them grief and shame? Even if your parents weren't good parents, you can still honor them, and are still called to honor them. Your dad may not have been around, physically or mentally, but you can still live in a way that would make him proud, even if he couldn't care less. Your mother may have torn you down with her words, or lack of them, but you can still live in a way that doesn't shame her, even if she never acknowledges it. Honoring is not contingent upon them, but you.

And it is important to ask another question, are you living in a way that deserves to be honored by your children? Are you setting an example as a man, husband, and father? Are you teaching your children how to live a life that honors you as their father, and your wife as their mother? Are you living a life that they want to honor?

We are commanded to honor our parents for as long as we live. And we need to live in a way that teaches our children to honor us so that their lives may be prolonged in the land that God gives them. Honor your parents, and live in a way the deserves to be honored.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor