Give Honor and be Blessed… | 2021 – Year of the Lord’s Favour | July 11, 2021

We welcome you all to the house of our living God. God is good all the times and all the times, God is good.

As you are aware, last week’s topic was “Honor God”, today we will continue with the same subject as we call today’s topic, “Give Honor and be Blessed!“

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Last week we learned five things about what does it mean to honor your father and mother?

We will continue further…

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Dutiful children are most likely to prosper. And parents must be tender, as well as children obedient. Servants are to do their duty, and obey their masters’ commands, in all things consistent with duty to God their heavenly Master.

When parents say something, children are ought to obey right-away, without delaying the instructions, joyfully. If children are going to obey their parents, they will be blessed. Delayed obedience is disobedience.

Illustration: George Washington’s mother once gave out a banquet. At the event, people asked how she managed to raise such well mannered and obedient child? To which she responded that “I taught how to to obey!”

Today we will continue with the previous subject and look further that what it means to honor our father and mother.

When there is a joyful relationship, enemy’s greatest desire is to bring a chaos in the relationship. We understand there are people who don’t live a Godly life and are very unwise or shellfish. And this results in making a relationship with parents very challenging.

As a pastor, I at times do not expect perfect relation or a perfect obedience from my children. However, the duty of a leader of the household, as granted by God, should be honored by children. Nevertheless, children in return will reveive the blessing for obeying their parents.

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

If you feel you have a past that you cannot forget, seek God’s help and forgive your parents. God will bless you!

There are many ways children can support their parents. One of the most practical way is supporting parents financially.

But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.

As parents get old, it is our responsibility to give them comfort.

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

When we were young, our parents raised us to become obedient in a way of training. They were the one to walk with us, help us sleep, care during the times when we were unwell. Now, it is a time for payback. Parents raised us in a way that we have become dependent and now is the oir turn that we repay.

When Jesus was crucified, he looked from the cross at his mother.

Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Jesus knew it was his responsibility to honor his mother so is ours.

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

William Barcley once said, “The raising of children requires tremendous sacrifice and it is only right that children make sacrifice for their parents.”

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Bible tells us very clearly, that when we honor God we will be blessed. And obeying parents is honoring God.

And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.

Bibke understands that there always will be individuals who will have no or ugly relationship with their parents. However, in this case, honor here means giving the respect to their parents. Doesn’t matter what parents did good or bad for you, you need to give respect since you honor God’s word. A person who is respectful to his parents, there is a blessing. However, if we disrespect them, there are consequences.

The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.

Socrates, a great philosopher once said, “Children; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. They no longer rise when elders enter the room, they contradict their parents and tyrannize their teachers. Children are now tyrants.”

Your parents are unique for you and ordained from God. Honor and respect God’s decision! It is right in the sight of God if you obey your parents and when you do that there is a reward. A reward of long life and blessing!

If you think you your relationship isn’t the way it is supposed to be with your parents and you cannot help it, then hold on. Help will come, help will come directly from God. All you need to do is ask Him.

Church, we hope you are encouraged with today’s word. We will see you again next Sunday, God Bless!