Honoring Parents

15 My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice!
16 Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right.
17 Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord.
18 You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.
19 My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course.
20 Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons,
21 for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags.
22 Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23 Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.
24 The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise.
25 So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be happy.

The way a society or culture treats its aging members says a lot about its values and compassion. Throughout Proverbs we read admonitions as well as encouragements about honoring parents. Followers of Jesus want to be among the wise children obeying the command “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12).

Whether living in their own homes, or with their children, or in retirement centers, aging parents need their children’s loving care. The writers of Proverbs knew nothing about pension plans or retirement homes. Parents lived with their children, and the family income provided for them. Robbing one’s father or driving out one’s mother would be the equivalent of spending dad’s pension on fishing trips or abandoning mom to fend for herself. Shameful!

Mark 7:9-13 records Jesus’ strong rebuke for adult children who hypocritically claimed doing honorable things while aging parents suffered neglect or abuse.

What a difference it makes when parents can delight in the caring love of their adult children, having their needs met and enjoying regular contact. With Christ’s wisdom to guide us, and in the strength of his Spirit living in us, we can honor our parents as God calls us to.

Father, thank you for parents whom we can honor by caring for them in many different ways. Give us insight on how we can do so, to your glory. In Christ, Amen.