AUG 19

Ephesians 6:2-3
Memorise Ephesians 6:2-3
“That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth”

When you consider the fifth commandment and the promise that comes with it, it may seem a bit strange at first glance. It tells us that if we honour our parents, then our “our days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee”. So we wonder: Does this mean that if we honour our parents we will be blessed with long lives? Conversely, does it mean that if we don’t honour our parents, we will die young?

To understand this promise better, we must understand the importance of families in society. They are the very building blocks of a nation. In every generation, parents are the ones tasked with nurturing and teaching their children, imparting to them important moral and spiritual values, making them responsible and upright citizens. This was essential for the very survival of the nation of Israel. Parents had the grave responsibility of bringing up their children in the fear of the Lord, even to the extent of reporting and then stoning their own children if they were rebellious and went after idolatry (Deuteronomy 13:6-9). This was to ensure that successive generations of Israelites would continue to worship Jehovah and not depart through idolary. If one generation failed in their duty and Israel turned away from the Lord, then they would be judged, and removed from their land. However, if every generation honoured their parents and served the Lord, then they would remain in the land of promise, and their days would be long upon the land. They would continue to be a witness for the Lord, and fulfil the role that God had set for them.

Likewise for us in the New Testament, a child who honours and obeys his Christian parents would surely be one who fears the Lord and is a good citizen of society. If every family is able to live up to such ideals, then the church would be able to survive and prosper into the next generation, and continue to fulfil its role as a witness and testimony for God.

Therefore this commandment is the defence that we have against the breakdown of churches and society as a whole, to ensure that we do not degenerate into a place of chaos, ill-discipline and godlessness. Each of us must do our part to ensure that we continue to enjoy the promise of God, that our churches will be effective and useful to Him.

Thought: My obedience contributes to the success of God’s Church.
Prayer: Lord, may You guide every generation of teens (myself included) to fear You, and to be obedient to our parents.