borrowed from macjams.com
You know, honor is something usually saved and referred to with the military. So and so received a medal of honor. Or reserved for acts of bravery for helping someone. These are wonderful things. No question. However, when was the last time you really showed honor to your parents? Oh, you’re not a child living at home anymore so this doesn’t apply? Sorry, that one won’t work.
My lexicon defines {honour} as: a holding worth, an estimate of the value or price of a thing; hence, esteem, honour, respect; intrinsic value,
If we go back to the beginning, after God sets man straight on the proper arrangement for his mindset on God, how to worship Him, how to work and handle daily life, He introduces this aspect of parents. Hmmm, He addresses PARENTS in the 10 commandments. This must be pretty darn important!
{Exodus 20:12}
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Note that God doesn’t just say to honour, but it is an {If, Then Covenant}! If you do this, then I’ll do that! God does not lie. He keeps His promises as we looked at before. When you honour your parents, you are granted something. Long life, and not just long life, but a life that is well with me (stated in Ephesians 6:3). I want me some of that!!
This verse doesn’t say:
Honour thy father (only if he is worthy) and thy mother (only if she is nice): and maybe I’ll throw you a bone or two.
He doesn’t give qualifiers or loopholes. We are to honour.
Oh, and then, let’s jump over to the New Testament to Ephesians 6!
{Ephesians 6:1-3}
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
This falls under an If/Then situation! What else do we see here? Yep, {obedience} They are to obey. Let’s get back to our Lexicon! It simply states that obey means to hear, (with the idea of stealth, stillness or attention in order to answer) to listen; hence, (as the result of this) to obey.
So what are parents to do? We are to teach our children to obey. {TEACH} them to obey. Did you not get that memo that they don’t come out of the womb obeying?! 
. This means, that we can’t just yell at them when they make mistakes or act foolish (Proverbs tells me that foolishness is bound in his heart, so why am I freaking out?). We can’t ignore all the negative things they do or ignore the sweet things they do. We take time with patience, longsuffering, forbearance, love, kindness and firmness. AND, most of all, help from the Ultimate Dad, our God! Yes, we teach them how to obey and honour. They get long life, and we get, well what do we get? Let’s go look at our Virtuous Woman in Proverbs 31:28, 31.
{Proverbs 31:28, 31}
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
and
{Proverbs 29:17}
Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
I like that!
How long are we are to honour you ask? How long is your Mother your Mother?
“Okay, but I’m married. I don’t have to honour anymore.” My bible doesn’t say that. My bible tells me that I am now one flesh with my man, that I am to lovingly submit to him, but it never tells me that I am to stop honouring my parents. Let me ask you a question. Do you have a problem with your parents? Consider this, show them honour because they deserve it (because God says so!) and see things change. See it melt their hearts. Then handle the problem and see your relationship strengthen and come alive! Why would this happen? Because all it takes is for 1 person in a relationship to change things. The other person will HAVE to change because you are no longer behaving in the manner you were. AND because, when we do things with the heart of God behind it, God says that His word is quick, and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. (Hebrews 4:12). This means that it is alive and energetic! We can EXPECT things to move quickly on our behalf!
Questions for you today.
- How do you show honour?
- How do you teach your children to obey?
- Do you need help with this? Email me at illpreparedmom@gmail.com, I’ll help you!
I’m praying for God’s best on your life today!
Heidi
Related articles
- My parenting model {Psalm 145:8} (illpreparedmom.wordpress.com)
Love it! Thanks, Heidi!
I was thinking while reading your post that some of us may have to swallow alot of pride to reach out to our parents and give them honor. Perhaps a post on forgiveness would be good to help those who have broken relationships.
RR
MMMM, indeed!!
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