Dishonoring Parents

For Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Proverbs 30:17

The eye that mocks a father and scorns a mother
will be picked out by the ravens of the valley
and eaten by the vultures.

Disrespect of one's parents clearly is not a modern phenomenon. This is the second time in chapter 30 that the matter has been raised (see v 11). There is the tendency of youth and, perhaps more so, adult children to denigrate their parents. Among youth, there is there natural tendency to want to assert independenc, and that often comes through questioning one's parents. Nor is it unusual for youth to resist what they feel are restraints on their intincts for pleasure and acceptance among their peers.

It is the adult child who never grows out of that youthful attitude who is most troubling. As he grows into adulthood, he should be learning the trials and temptations that have beset his parents, thus making him more understanding of whatever defects they possess. He should be learning from his own failures the frailty of the human spirit, and so identifying with his parents as fellow sinners needing grace.

How else will he handle being a parent himself? Like Peter who swore to his Lord that he would not be like the other disciples who would forsake his master and then sinned beyond them, so is likely to happen to the adult child who swears he will be a better parent than his. It is not self-confidence, but rather humility that will make the difference. And once we understand that we are no different from our parents, however poor they may have been in raising us and still treat us - once we understand that whatever we do right is done by the grace of God, it is then that we have a chance ourselves to raise children who will not mock and scorn us.

Bless your parents; honor them by doing whatever is for their good. Act according to the principle of grace and not out of your hurts. Perhaps you cannot help them (though you have more of a chance to do so than if you act of resentment and pride); but what is really at stake is your heart. Do not let it be filled with pride; do not let scorn come to life in it.