Sis. Dina Balicanot
Sept. 17, 2009
 
     We should relate to our parents with the same joy of relating to God, our heavenly Father who will never leave, hurt or give up on us.

     We often hear of our parents' responsibility to us, their children. Do we know our responsibility to them? These are our "special duties." Many don't know they exist:
 
     1. Be sure that you dearly love your parents. Delight to be in their company

     Remember what troubles, sorrow we caused them to send us to school, provide for our needs, how they have taken care of us.

     What you are, what you have is because of your parents. The reason we don't appreciate them is because we don't talk to them.
 
     2. Honor your parents in your thoughts, words and actions

     Ex. 20:12 "Honor your father and mother so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you."

     This is a commandment, it is not optional. We separate from God every time we disobey or dishonor our parents. Let's honor them even when they're not wise or godly. Speak with reverence to them both in their presence and in their absence.
 
     3. Obey your parents in all things

     Col. 3:20 "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord."

     Do what they command you, with willingness, without murmuring or disputing, as long as what they ask you to do is not harmful to you. Our parents are accountable to God for us. Parents are God's officers to govern us.

     The disposition of a godly child is love is and fear, which moves him to obedience.
 
     4. Be content with your parents' provisions for you

     Show gratefulness. Respect their achievements, or their poverty. Bear with their faults, defend their reputation. This is what a godly child does. Our parents want the best for us, but they have priorities, too. We shouldn't complain.
 
     5. Humble yourself and submit to any work that your parents appoint/ask you to do

     Do not be lazy. Learn the value of industry and perseverance. Help them. Let them have rest.
 
     6. Be willing and thankful to be instructed by your parents about the fear of God and the matters of your salvation

     Pay close attention to their teachings. Our love for them should move us to listen carefully to all they teach. Fear of God is the first thing that our parents should teach us. If we know this even if we die ahead of them, they'll not worry. They can also go away peacefully once we're taught this.
 
     7. Patiently submit to the correction which your parents lay upon you

     Heb. 12:6 "For whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges."
 
     8. Choose not your own friends, but heed such friends whom your parents like for you

     Prov. 12:15 "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; but he who listens to counsel is wise."

     Bad influence can come from friends. Listen to parents, they have a gift for discernment. We can't choose friends disagreeable to our parents.
 
9. Choose not your own calling or occupation, without the choice or consent of your parents

     We should discuss with our parents. Resist if what they ask you to do is bad for you.
 
     10. Marry not without your parents' consent

          Prov. 13:1 "A wise son hears his father's instructions."

          Important decisions in life require the parents' involvement.
 
     11. If your parents be in need, it is your duty to relieve them according to your ability, and to totally support them

     It is inhuman to treat your parents like servants. It's impossible to repay them for what they have done to us.
 
     12. Imitate your parents in all that is good, both when they are living and when they are gone.

          1 Cor. 9:1 "Follow not your fathers in their sin and error, but follow them where they follow Christ."

     In spite of their faults, parents have their outstanding characteristics. We are an extension of our parents.
 
     Let us strive to be blessings to our parents, and be assured that our parents will be greater blessings to us than we can be to them.