Show Proper Respect

SHOW PROPER RESPECT TO EVERYONE. 2 Peter 2.17.

The other day, I was told about the behavior of a 4 year old child from a grandmother. The child refused to wear the clothes his mother had picked. The reason, it was not his choice! He yelled and screamed at his parents and started pulling his mother's hair. All this was performed in front of elderly guests who happened to be staying with the family. All the parents did was to start making excuses for the boy's behaviour. Where in the world has discipline and training children to behave and respect parents and elders gone from Christian families? This is only the tip of the iceberg!

Recently the Christian parents of an adult, educated daughter gave me a letter written by her to her retired uncle and aunty. The letter exuded deadly venom that would kill a thousand people or at least knock them unconscious! Obviously their family and personal relationship had been pretty sour for years and there were upsetting incidents lately. But doesn’t the Bible teach, “In your anger do not sin”. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, do not give the devil a foothold” (Eph 4.26,27).

A generation ago these things would not have happened even in pagan families! The unwritten law was, “Children are to be seen and not heard!” Parents seldom chit-chatted with their children, let alone played with them. Then things began to change. Parents and children became buddies. The societies and cultures that practiced filial piety and obedience made a turn around. The parents relaxed on disciplining their children and seldom were they taught to respect elders and strangers. Saying ‘No’ to a child was not sound psychology and ‘the rod’ was thrown out the back door!

What does the Bible teach you about how you and your children should treat your parents, relatives, friends and even strangers? The Ten Commandments are binding to all people of all ages. The fifth commandment demands ‘honour your parents’. The other nine teach us to honour God and respect others and their rights and property. Jesus never set aside the commandments. He came to fulfill even the spirit of the law!

What does God teach us about bringing up children in any age particularly ours when they are already under the influence of the corrupt media and wanton peer pressures? “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Pro 22.6). “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him” (Pro 13.24).

We are living in a day when there is a proliferation of sermons, seminars, lectures, courses, counselling etc. etc. Many spend fortunes attending them! But if our attitude is that ‘we know better’, then even God cannot help us or our children. As I was writing this, ‘the verse of the day’ appeared on my computer screen and it read, “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Pro 26.12).

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, teach me to honour You and respect all people, especially parents and older people. Let Your blessing flow on me and my family as I do so. Amen.