AUG 20

1 Timothy 5:1-2
Memorise 1 Peter 5:5
“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour”

So aside from our own parents that we are told to honour, does the scope of this commandment instruct us to honour anyone else? If we understand this commandment rightly, a natural extension of this law would teach us to also give honour and respect to those who are above us in positions of authority and age. This is a basic Christian virtue that we ought to learn – humility and respect, as is in 1 Peter 5:5, “Likewise ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble”.

1 Timothy 5:1-2 tells us that in a church, we ought to regard the older men as our fathers, and older women as our mothers. Thus naturally, we ought to give to them the same respect and honour that we would give to our parents. This does not mean that we blindly follow all that they tell us to do, for we are after all still accountable to our own parents. But that does mean that we are to extend respect to them, listen to the advice that they give, and if they are mature Christians, to follow their spiritual example.

Oftentimes in our youth we are proud and arrogant. With what little education that we have, and armed with the paltry experience in life we have gathered, we think that we know it all, and do not have to be taught or told what to do. We are also often caught up in our own worlds of fun and activity, and have little time for the older, wiser and more mature people in our midst. If we were but to humble ourselves, slow down for a moment to take notice of the elders whom God has placed around us, there is indeed much that we can learn from them.

A wise youth would be one who would heed the warnings and advice of those who have trod the same paths before him. He would devote his time and attention not to pursuing after the transient pleasures that this world offers, but instead seek after wisdom and understanding. He would naturally know to honour and respect the people around him, giving heed to their warnings. In time to come, he would grow up to be one of those wise elders, and in turn be able to impart sage advice to the younger ones who would come his way. Would you be that wise youth?

Thought: Only the wise would take time to learn from the wiser.
Prayer: Lord, grant me the wisdom and humility to honour those whom I should, to learn from them and respect them for who they are.