Honor Your Father and Mother (A Timely Warning to the Young Generation)

A summary of the message delivered by the author recently at a special gathering of Christian friends.

In Japan, a company is offering actors to play the part of family members. The actors will visit elderly parents as surrogates for the real family members. In Oakland, California, 62-year old man who could neither walk nor talk was found abandoned on a flight. A note was pinned to his clothing saying he needed medical attention. What a shocking acts the people play.



You may say, these are cases from other countries. How can you connect with this to our context? Yes, true, but dear friends, We Indians too are not less in disrespecting our parents. Though our tradition and culture give a high value and respect to our parents many disgusting news are appearing in our daily news papers and visual media. A recent news item I read in a newspaper is rather upsetting. In our city (Hyderabad) a news head line read like this "Grand children dumped their grandparents into the dustbin". What a shocking news it is? This is what is happening in our own cities. The same phenomenon is continuing the world over. Ones the children are able to stand alone on their feet they simply forget about the past, how their parents brought them up to such level, how much hardships they underwent to bring them up they never think. How sad.



Let us look into the Holy Scripture what it says on this issue. The Scripture is very clear on this subject. This type of disregard to parents is contrary to God's instructions. Christians should respect their parents. The word of God very clearly instructs this. In the second book of the Bible Exodus chapter 20 verse 12 we read "Honor your father and your mother that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you" In this particular command there is a special thing to note. There is a slight difference from all the other commandments. Yes if you notice we can find a great promise given along with this commandment. The God has given a promise attached to this. If you do or obey this command along with it you get a blessing. Notice the end portion of the verse. Your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you. It's a good thing to have long life. Why God has promised this to us those who Honor and love their parents. Is it to just to live a life as we like? No, but to live a life which is pleasing to Him our Lord. Let us examine ourselves; Are we living a life which is pleasing to our Savior? Or are we living a life just like that.



No doubt we are all living in a very busy world. Our life become so crowded with so many activities, o my God so many things to do at home connected with self and children and sometimes connected with relatives, friends, and neighbors, in school, in church and in so many other areas. Yes, we are all busy people committed to many activities. But dear friends, one thing you and I must remember, do not forget that the one who gave you life may now require your attention as well. Please check to see if they have needs; that are going unmet; if they live nearby invite them to your house. Take some time to show your love to them by talking to them or by spending time with them. If they are staying away from you talk to them over phone as often as possible. Let them speak as much as they want. Dear friends their life may not be long now on this earth, but God the almighty promises that your days will be long upon the land if you honor your father and mother. Don't allow this treasure to pass by your life by just neglecting it.



The day-today incidents say that we are living in the last days. The Bible very clearly says this, in II Timothy chapter 3 and verses 1 & 2. Says, "But realize this that in the last days difficult times will come. Verse 2 for men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful unholy... there is a big list. Please notice the last portion of verse 2. Disobedient to parents. This is the nature of today's world. Somewhat similar portion we can read it in the book of Romans chapter 1:30 notice the last portion of verse 30 they are disobedient to parents. Of course it is talking to the Romans, they know very well about the ordinance of God that those who practice such evil things are worthy of death, but they still do the same thing by themselves, not only that they approve others who practice it.



Dear friends, from these New Testament portions it is very clear that disobedient to parents is not a simple thing to neglect but notice it says, "they are worthy of death." Obey your parents is our Lord's commandment to us. We have to obey. Some may think that these are for the OT believers and it is not applicable to the present generation. No, this is not true. The Bible is God's word, our creator's word or instructions to us. It is for us to obey. If we obey his commandments or his instructions we have life, Life eternal. Solomon the wise, the wisest man ever lived on this earth says: "A wise son makes a father glad. But a foolish son is a grief to his mother. Proverbs 10: 1-2... Let us be wise enough to respect and honor our parents that will be a blessing to us as well as it pleases our Father in Heaven. May God help us.