Primarily, honour means to show respect towards another. It means to give recognition to; to esteem. It also means to give preference. Our opening verse admonishes children to honour their parents. When you honour your parents, God says you’ll have a long and happy life. That means God’s going to specially preserve you in the earth, and see to it that you have a prosperous and glorious life.
There’re lots of people who’re looking for jobs, and not getting any, neither do they have the right ideas to start up their own business; things aren’t well with them. It’s possible they haven’t been honouring their parents or those whom God has placed over them.
You’re indebted to your parents and those who nurtured and brought you up in life. You owe them; and it’s a debt you’ll have to pay. 1 Timothy 5:4 AMP says, "But if a widow has children or grandchildren, see to it that these are first made to understand that it is their religious duty [to defray their natural obligation to those] at home, and make return to their parents or grandparents [for all their care by contributing to their maintenance], for this is acceptable in the sight of God." The way to pay that debt is by honouring them, and giving back to them.
There’s, however, one more inclusion to this truth. In the New Testament, when God said for us to honour our parents, He wasn’t only referring to our physical parents, but also our spiritual parents. Your spiritual father or mother is the one who brings you up in the faith. The Bible says, "For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel" (1 Corinthians 4:15).
There’re those who start out well in Church and later become unruly in the house of God. They come to church whenever they wish, speak against the leadership in the most derogatory manner. Such people aren’t giving honour to whom honour is due. Honour those who have the rulership and authority over you. This is of utmost importance in the Kingdom of God, because your success and wellbeing are connected to this: "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you" (Hebrews 13:17).
Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for teaching me to esteem, honour, and show respect to those you’ve placed in positions to nurture and bring me up in the path of truth and righteousness. Thank you for your blessings in my life; I’m making progress from glory to glory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
further study: Mark 12:14-17;1 Timothy 5:4; 1 Peter 2:17
: Mark 12:14-17;1 Timothy 5:4; 1 Peter 2:17
: Hebrews 10:19-39 Ezekiel 20
Post a Comment