Given vs. Earned

Ex.20:¹² “Honour your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

I perceive that the question on a lot of our minds since we began to talk about the fifth commandment is, how can a Christian honour a dishonourable teacher, or a dishonourable boss, or a dishonourable head of department, or a dishonourable parent, or honour a dishonourable president? When God says, honour your father and mother, what exactly is God saying? What is our responsibility when the person in authority is dishonourable? The answer to these questions is in the meaning and the root of the word – honour. Honour in the fifth commandment literarily means to give weight to, or to regard as heavy.

God is saying, give weight to your father and mother. God is saying, regard your mother and father as heavy. When it comes to your father or your mother, let them be weighty inyour hands. I know that some people will argue and it is mainly because of the negative experiences they have had with their parents. Honestly, I understand your pain and I am not saying that your parents have not done wrong. But God is saying not for their sakes but for your own, honour your parents. Insisting that your parents do not deserve honour, points to the fact that you do not fully understand the meaning of the word “honour”.

Most of the time people confuse honour with respect. Respect has to be earned but honour is to be given. Your parents may not have earned your respect but God is saying honour them, give weight to them nevertheless. Just like the scales in today’s illustration, God is saying, you give weight to your parents. People earn bachelor’s degrees by enrolling at the university for a course, taking the exams and passing it. However, there are also people that have Bachelor’s degrees that are honorary. They did not work for it, they were given. Honour is given, respect is earned.

Prayer: Father, by Your Holy Spirit compel me to do Your command, to give honour to my biological and spiritual parents and those in authority over me, in Jesus Name. Amen!