"Don't Bite The Hand That Feeds - 24m:53s

Scott McFarland
09/24/17 - Sun AM Worship

Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:12

Honor to Whom Honor is Due

Parents

This morning, we’ll talk about the 5th commandment, “Honor your father and mother.”  In an article on honoring parents, author and blogger Tim Challies writes 6 ways you can honor your parents.  I thought what he had to say was very good.  Here, in a nutshell, is his article (you can find the full version here: https://www.challies.com/articles/5-practical-ways-to-honor-your-parents/).  By the way, honoring parents isn’t just for people under 18!

Forgive Them

No parent is perfect.  One of the easiest things to do is harbor resentment for mistakes that your parents made while they were raising you.  They probably did mess up, maybe even majorly.  God still calls us to forgive each other (Eph. 4:32).

Speak Well of Them

This dovetails with number 1.  Speak well of your parents, or at least refuse to speak evil of them.  Your parents may very well have done things that hurt you, but we must be careful how and when we speak of our parents.  The commandment to honor parents does not come with any exceptions based on how they treated us.

Esteem Them Publicly and Privately

It does a parent’s heart good to hear how their hard work has paid off.  As I was entering adulthood, a lot of my parents’ lessons they’d taught me came true.  It is so nice when your child tells you, “You know, I’m really glad you taught us to save our money growing up.”

Seek Their Wisdom

Most parents love the opportunity to give their child a bit of advice.  Even now, my dad loves to help me out with questions about a house or car project.

Support Them

Not necessarily financially, but with other forms of support.  As our parents age, they increase their dependence on others.  What better way to honor our parents than to take them in our homes, or provide in home care so they can remain in their home, if possible.

Provide for Them

Financially.  Currently, the cost to raise a child to 18 is somewhere around $250,000.  Your parents spent a lot of money to raise you.  Taking them out to eat, buying them useful items for their home, etc., help us honor those who have given much to help us be the people we are.

I know this article (and this sermon) may be painful for some of us.  Unfortunately, not all parents are easy to honor.  Some, unfortunately, we’d rather forget about and move on from the pain they’ve caused in our lives due to abuse, neglect, mental illness, or any number of issues.  As difficult as it may be, however, we are still called to honor.

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