READ YOUR RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL FRIDAY, 21ST OCTOBER 2016.
GIVE HONOUR TO WHOM IT IS DUE – PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth (Ephesians 6:1-3).
Primarily, honour means to show respect towards another. It means to give recognition to; to esteem. It also means to give preference. Our
opening verse admonishes children to honour their parents. When you honour your parents, God says you’ll have a long and happy life. That means God’s going to specially preserve you in the earth, and see to it that you have a prosperous and glorious life.
There’re lots of people who’re looking for jobs, and not getting any, neither do they have the right ideas to start up their own business; things aren’t well with them. It’s possible they haven’t been honouring their parents or those whom God has placed over them.
You’re indebted to your parents and those who nurtured and brought you up in life. You owe them; and it’s a debt you’ll have to pay. 1 Timothy 5:4 AMP says, “But if a widow has children or grandchildren, see to it that these are first made to understand that it is their religious duty [to defray their natural obligation to those] at home, and make return to their parents or grandparents [for all their care by contributing to their maintenance], for this is acceptable in the sight of God.” The way to pay that debt is by honouring them, and giving back to them.
There’s, however, one more inclusion to this truth. In the New Testament, when God said for us to honour our parents, He wasn’t only referring to our physical parents, but also our spiritual parents. Your spiritual father or mother is the one who brings you up in the faith. The Bible says, “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15).
There’re those who start out well in Church and later become unruly in the house of God. They come to church whenever they wish, speak against the leadership in the most derogatory manner. Such people aren’t giving honour to whom honour is due. Honour those who have the rulership and authority over you. This is of utmost importance in the Kingdom of God, because your success and wellbeing are connected to this: “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17).
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for teaching me to esteem, honour, and show respect to those you’ve placed in positions to nurture and bring me up in the path of truth and righteousness. Thank you for your blessings in my life; I’m making progress from glory to glory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further Study:
Mark 12:14-17 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. 16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s. 17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.And they marvelled at him.
1 Timothy 5:4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
1 Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
1 Timothy 3:1-16, Jeremiah 9-10
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Hebrews 10:19-39, Ezekiel 20