Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Honoring Your Parents
Bishop Keith Butler
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise...) Ephesians 6:1-2 (KJV)
What is the promise that comes along with honoring your father and mother? It will be well with you, and you will live long on the earth. The Amplified translation says it this way: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord [as his representatives], for this is just and right. Honor (esteem, and value as precious) your father and mother..."
He did not say to honor them if they were right. Nor did it say to honor, esteem, and value your parents if they were perfect. God said, honor, esteem and value as precious your father and your mother. This is the first commandment with a promise.
To honor your parents is to love them. And God's love is unconditional. The kind of love He expects us to exhibit as His children, as believers, is unconditional love even if we had parents who were terrible. Why is this? It is for your own preservation. Verse 3 says, "That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." In other words, your prosperity in the earth is tied to how you treat your parents.
When your parents need help, and when they get old, they should not be thrown away like an old shoe in case they get in the way of your life. This is one reason why God expects you not to get into debt. When your parents get old you should be willing to assist them. The Bible said, as a man sows that shall he also reap. You do not know, if Jesus tarries, that you will be old one day and you may need assistance from your children.
People wonder why they do what the Bible says, and do not get the blessing. It is because they have not accepted all of the Bible. They picked up certain portions they wanted to pick up. They liked the mo ney cometh part, but not the take care of the parents' part. You have to accept all of God's word.
If you will live godly, God will bless your seed and your seed's seed. It says to honor your parents. Obey your parents. If you are a young person, it does not matter whether or not mama understands, do what she tells you to do. Do what your parents tell you to do and honor them, and you will live long and see good days on the earth.
Scripture References: Psalm 103:17; Proverbs 13:22; Galatians 6:7
Bishop Keith A. Butler is the founder and pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI, and Word of Faith Christian Center in San Antonio, TX. Bishop Butler ministers extensively in churches, conferences, and seminars throughout the U.S. and abroad with an emphasis on instruction and no-nonsense, practical application of God's Word
