The Commandment with Promise
“Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12
Some have thought, and said, that this command was for the Israelites only, but in the Epistle to the Ephesians (6:1-3), it is repeated to the Gentiles. Thus it is clear that God gave this law to all peoples and for all times, and I hope my dear young friends will be able to understand this matter of honor and obedience to parents in a true and right sense. Let me use an illustration in order to make the reason clearer to you.
Many years ago, when there were hardly any buses, no cars, and in the country districts especially the train was a long way off, people very often had to walk long distances through country which was quite unknown to them. There might be a few posts on the road-side to show the right way, but none if the journey was through the meadows or woods. Then how nice it was to have not only a companion, but one who had been before, and knew the way, and thus could save many weary hours spent in re-tracing steps taken in the wrong direction. Now our parents have travelled a long way on the journey of life, they knew the dangers of the world before we were born into it. Thus they “know the way”; and it is always a joy to good fathers and mothers to teach it to their children to the best of their ability. Let us now consider how much we owe to our parents. They have endeavored to provide us with:
1. A happy home.
2. All the food we need.
3. Nice warm clothing.
4. A comfortable bed to rest in at night.
5. Books to read, and toys to play with, and many a little treat now and then.
Besides all these things, think of all the time and attention which our kind mothers have spent upon us — feeding, washing and dressing us when we were too young to help ourselves —and nursing us tenderly when we were ill. Think too of how hard our fathers have worked either with their hands or their minds, that we might be provided with a home and all things needful.
I once saw a dear mother, with her little baby boy in her arms, slip at the top of some stairs, and before I could reach the spot to help her, she had fallen right down to the bottom. But she held the little one safely, and took all the hard bumps herself, and when I got to her, she was soothing the frightened baby, saying, “My poor little dear, did you have such a shaking!” and made light of her own bruises.
Then what a blessing it is to be favored with Christian parents, who have taught us the difference between right and wrong, taken us to the services in God’s house and to Sunday School, and told us beautiful and sometimes solemn true stories from God’s Holy Bible. But really our parents have done so much for us that I must stop for lack of room, but I hope my dear young friends will think over what I have written and try to search out for themselves how many more blessings they owe, under God, to their parents.
Now do you think it strange that the holy, blessed God, who understands everything, has said, “Honor thy father and thy mother”? Why this is what we all should do, and do it willingly and gladly too. Think how hard it must be to a loving parent, who had done so much for the sake of the children, if they grow up to be disobedient, sinful, untruthful, or pull wry faces and pout when asked to do any little jobs. Think, too, how it must hurt affectionate parents, or other guardians, when these children give them “back-talk,” or “sharp, rude replies,” just as if they were talking to an enemy, instead of to their kindest friends. This is very ungrateful, and sinful, and shows, to say the least, a thoughtless spirit.
In conclusion, remember, dear young friends, that the command: “Honor thy father and thy mother,” applies not only to little children, but to teens as well; and it requires even young men and women to show great respect and consideration to their parents’s wishes, and to be always ready to help and comfort them, especially, when they are old and weak.
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Bekijk de hele uitgave van woensdag 1 juli 1987
The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's
Bekijk de hele uitgave van woensdag 1 juli 1987
The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's