Christian Homes (pt. 5)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:1-4 ESV).

 

The Apostle Paul now turns to the children in the Christian home. I’ve selected a picture for today’s devotional that is the only picture I possess of all of my brothers and their children. The oldest is standing second from the left, back row; the youngest child, my son, Aaron, is standing second from the left, front row. I’m not sure of the exact year it was taken, though it must have been in the early 90’s. We’ve all aged a bit with my older two brothers now deceased. I cannot imagine the stories that could be told from all four of us concerning the exploits of our children! I do know none of us were a model of the first part of the apostle’s instruction in our reading: Children obey your parents (v. 1). The same could be said for every human being. We are all, after all, sinners.

 

The key is in the second part of his instruction. By quoting the fourth commandment, Paul is saying the principle is in “honoring” our parents. Again, as with “love,” we must understand the word “honor.” The Hebrew word for honor in Scripture conveys the idea of “weightiness” (Kabad). Parenthood is an office that should hold a certain weight, receive a defined honor, just for its mere existence. In His sovereignty, God provided weight, dignity, and honor to the office of parenthood. RC Sproul explains, “God doesn't say, 'Honor your father and mother only when they're honorable.’ Theirs is a position. They hold an office. And even if they are unworthy of that office, the office itself is still to be honored.” 

 

Jesus gives us an example. His relationship to His Father was perfectly in alignment with the commandment. However, unlike the relationship between God and Jesus, the Bible is filled with far less stellar examples of parent-child relationships. Instead, it’s filled with stories of flawed humans like you and me. Subconsciously we attribute super human powers to our parents when we are young, and when those images come crashing down, their humanity is often too much to bear. And yet there is no caveat in Scripture for this command. If your parents are still living, it is not too late to honor them; and, for those who are “children” practice honor without the demands of perfect from them.