Uncommonनमुना

“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

Just like last week, Paul paired teaching for husbands and wives; today, he pairs children and parents. Why? Because, as in all relationships, each person in the relationship brings the power of success or failure to the relationship.

Honoring is a societal root system. Plants with a great root system are able to grow, bear fruit, and remain unearthed.

A system of family or culture that no longer honors the most fundamental level - child to parent and parent to child- will unearth society. If honor within a family breaks down, it will cascade into society.

Boys learn to respect the opposite gender by honoring their moms. All children learn to respect teachers, civic leaders, and coaches by honoring their dads and moms. We must honor their position. Honoring authority matters to God and reflects how we honor the Lord Himself.

That does not mean turning a moral blind eye. We can disdain the actions of bad or absent parents. We can protect ourselves from their influence. We will outgrow their control.

But we must live in peace as far as it depends on us.

We must honor when respect is not deserved. We must forgive when forgiveness isn’t earned.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Just because you are an adult does not mean this commandment is optional. Do you honor your parents (this includes in-laws)?
2. Is there an authority problem in your heart? Do you naturally rebel against people who are “over” you? Why or why not?
3. As a parent, do you think how YOU respond to authority will be imitated by your own children?
4. Prayer and other thoughts:

Disclaimer: If you have experienced parental abuse, you do not have to re-establish contact in order to show honor to them. You are allowed to love from a distance. Forgiveness will help to heal YOU. Speaking as an abused child myself, walk in the honor God has called you in, and where the Lord takes you may surprise you. In times of parental evil, justice must be done, but be careful how far you thrust the sword, for it may pierce the next generation.