TODAY'S WORD FOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2014.
RESPECT
Treat with high regard and high esteem; to give honor to.
Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise. Ephesians 6:1-2.
At times we wonder if people even know what the word respect means. The actions of people today tend to show a lack of respect. For example if you drive a car do people driving other cars show any respect to you. You get cut off from your lane if you are not going as fast as others. Backing out of your parking place in a parking lot you must be very alert because no one waits for you to back out. They keep on moving and many times just miss a collision.
What kind of respect do you receive at your work place? It seems each person is out for themselves and even when you do a good job and complete a project your boss says nothing. It used to be that people were thanked and congratulated for a job well done. That does not happen today.
In the two verses we have put above we want you to note, first, that verse 1 of Ephesians 6 deals with children and their responsibility to obey. This speaks of action that must be taken by the child and when they obey they are showing respect to their parent.
In verse two when Paul refers to honor he is speaking about respect and attitude which is the motive behind the action taken by the child as he or she obeys. When God gave us His law in the Ten Commandments, the first law governing human relationships was this one. It relates to family and is the only one that does, because this principle alone secures a families fulfillment. And verse two ends with a promise (as given in verse three) of special blessing for those that obey this command. Children that obey and honor their father and mother are showing respect to them.
According to God’s Word society is built on the family. When the family breaks down, as is happening so prevantly today, the society breaks down. We are seeing today the devastating effect the break-down of the family is having on society.
One of the major factors for stability in the family is respect. Parents must respect one another and teach their children to respect them and their authority over them. But in many homes today, worldwide, this is not happening.
“To honor your parents” means to act in a way that shows courtesy and respect and to be submissive to them. It means to never speak disrespectfully to them or about them.
If children do not learn to honor parents, the disrespect spills over into their adult lives, affecting every other relationship they will have. It is the responsibility of the parents to teach respect and if they fail problems accelerate into the next generation. Soon an entire society is plagued with disrespect in homes, schools and workplaces. Does this sound like our generation today?
Our culture is disrespectful because parents have abdicated their responsibility. Instead of standing in the place of honor that God has given them, they have stepped down and tolerated bad behavior from their children. Some parents fail to recognize that disrespect is a serious matter that calls for immediate action. This is ignorance about discipline. If you let such attitudes and behaviors continue it will escalate if it is not checked and you are not raising your child according to Biblical principles so how can you expect anything but trouble later in life.
There also is a misunderstanding about love. In their desire to be loved by their children, parents try to be a child’s best friend instead of a parent. Children need an authority figure in their lives. If children see a parent as an equal they are less likely to respect or love the parent.
Probably the biggest reason for the lack of respect today by children is that parents get overwhelmed with busyness and they let it slide when their children show disrespect. Teaching children to honor you takes time, effort, and consistency. If you as a parent do not teach your child does not learn. Parents must remember that they teach by example. Parents must also obey God’s command and honor their own parents.
In Ephesians 6:4 Paul instructs parents to be the right kind of teachers and bring their children up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:18.
But I have received everything in full and have abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
Help me to teach my children respect and honor. May I be strong and firm in a loving way showing them that it is Your will for them to love, honor and respect their parents. Help me to be a godly example for my children and to be deserving of their respect.
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