Niagara Falls Church of Christ

2011 Tennessee Ave.,  Niagara Falls, NY  14305

(716)285-6534 (716)285-6534 (for phone and fax)

James Lawrence, Herschel Walker - Elders

Eddie J. Cornelius, Minister Emeritus

A Loss of Honor - 28

A Loss of Honor - 28

 

We are living in an age and a generation that believes in absolute freedom. Many times this freedom comes at the expense of others. The freedom of others is impinged upon because many have forgotten how to respect the rights of others. We are living in a generation that has lost the understanding of respect for others because one of the basic biblical principals have been lost.

 

In Eph. 6:1-3 the Bible says "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." Today we are experiencing the wholesale loss of young people. They are killing one another, they are dying  from drug abuse, they are dying from alcohol abuse, they are dying from sexually transmitted diseases, they are dying from foolish accidents. Much of this loss could  be prevented if these young people were taught at an early age to "obey your parents", and to "Honour thy father and mother." To "honour", in Eph. 6:2, Means "to prize, that is, fix a valuation upon; by implication to revere"  (Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries). When we consider the various words in the Bible from which our word "honour" is translated, we learn that the honor accorded to a person or thing is largely dependant on the way in which that person or thing is viewed. If the person is viewed to have value, then honour is accorded to that person. The command in Eph. 6:3 speaks to the value with which a child views his parents. The child is commanded to view his parents as valuable assets to his own welfare and development and treat them accordingly.

 

It is a sad commentary on today's society that many parents cannot be viewed as having any value to speak of. Many children feel they must turn elsewhere to find persons, they feel, deserving of their honour and respect. But, generally speaking, all parents have their child's best interest at heart. Even when they do not set the best examples they  give instructions designed to keep the child safe from harm. Proverbs 1:8-9 says: "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck." Those fortunate enough to have literal crowns and ornamental chains about the neck knew these to be a sign of their worth, value and status. These ornaments were also a constant reminder of the responsibility that went along with such trappings. When young people today commit themselves to obeying their parents, they will find this commitment to be the same kind of reminder to them. A sincere desire to honour ones parents will keep a person out of all kinds of dangerous places and situations.

 

Notice, in Eph. 6:1-3, obedience and honour go hand in hand. A child shows honour for his parents by obeying their rules and regulations. So, conversely, when a child disobeys his parents, he also dishonors his parents. Notice also that the promise of God of well-being and long life are conditioned upon the child's obedience to his parents.

 

How many premature deaths may have been avoided by a child simply obeying the rules laid down by his parents? How many life changing events might have been avoided simply by submitting to the authority of parents? How many prison terms, hospital visits, abortions, drug recovery units might have been prevented simply by children obeying their parents?

 

I have found one of the great blessings of life is to grow old enough to care for my parents as they cared for me in my childhood.  Jesus saw this as a great blessing and responsibility that one should not seek to avoid (Matt. 15:4-6). So, then, another way to honour ones parents is to live long enough to provide care for them in their old age. This we do by honoring them with obedience in our youth.




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