by David Brenneman
"Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth." Ephesians 6:2-3.
"So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time.” Deuteronomy 4:40.
“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.
Sometime in the middle of the night all I kept having repeated in my mind was the Scripture reference from Ephesians 6. Then after waking up it was still there. After reading it I was drawn to wondering what Old Testament passage part of it was referring to. While some point to the book of Exodus, I take it as a God thing that the portion of Deuteronomy showed up.
Taking a look at the headlines today a very unhealthy disrespect for parents exists. Further, a very unhealthy so-called respect for parents even over worldly authority and the Word of God exists in our world today.
There is a Biblically established order to marriage. One man with one woman. In this marriage, it's not simply between a man and woman but rather it's between a man, woman and God. What He has joined together let no one separate is how it's most often said. There is here a Biblically established order of children to parents and parents to children in the book of Ephesians chapter 6.
This passage does point us all to the writings of the Old Testament.
In many teaching circles "fearing the Lord" means to respect the Lord.
In such a town as we live, I read up on the happenings around town. Reading on the respectfulness of some and the utter disrespect shown towards others.
These too point to what the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy of how people will be. Lovers of self. Disrespectful.
I know of people who do put their parents above God in their lives. I know of still others who put their children in that position with regards to them.
"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
People with regards to lives being cut short often try to put a positive spin on the lives of some who, in God's eyes, were not the how people are painting the picture of how they were.
I have experienced people who do indeed put the wants of their parents ahead of God. They aren't even aware of how mislead they are.
In the reality of the God of the Bible...and what's to come...a healthy Biblical standing must be kept. Parents and children will be disappointed at times to know that it's not their way that's most important. It's what the Word of God says that is what's right in the sight of God.
As the passage says in Romans 3:4 "May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “That You may be justified in Your words, And prevail when You are judged.”.
There's going to be countless times when both parents and children are going to be disappointed in each other.
The point of living out Christ is to be obedient in God's eyes in what we do, say, and think.
Check yourself at the door of life.
Who's in charge of your life? Who do you hold most high? If your parents are telling you to disregard God's Word then you really shouldn't listen. Respectfully but with firmness. God doesn't want us disobeying Him to be the acceptable path to living life.
Ephesians 6:1 says this too. For children to obey their parents IN THE LORD.
God's never wanting us to disrespect our parents but rather still to keep God as the focus, the centerpiece, of our lives and theirs.
The Biblical order comes from Jesus. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. THEN love your neighbor as yourself.
This may severe some relationships. Perhaps for a season or perhaps longer. Upholding the Word of God in our lives as Believers is to be the light in this present darkness in which we live.
Our relationships are probably the most prayed about item next to health and needs.
Jesus said to store up your treasures in Heaven where moth and rust do not destroy. The treasure, in God's economy, are people not things.
Working on right relationships is a full-time task in life. Do so with regards to the way that God says it should be and it will do well for us while on the Earth.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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