Gods Design for Sons and Daughters
Ephesians 6: 1-3
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Let us look at what an honourable son or daughter is? To my mind, and I believe it’s the Lords idea too, as He lives in my heart, I think God wants our young people to grow up with respect for the people who have walked before them. He wants them to look up to their elders in a fashion that uplifts their parents and makes them see the work they have put into their children has been well worth while… and that those children are grateful for the years of effort put into raising them as sons and daughters of the Lord.
Some young people may rebel at the idea of looking up to their Mother or their Father. They may call them old fogies or the “old man” or “old woman” to their friends… but is that the right way to treat the ones who cared for you when you were small? Is it the right way to treat the man or woman who picked you up when you fell down, sat beside you when you were ill, or played those splendid games with you in the park? When you needed them most, they were there… but now you don’t need them you despise them and hate to have them turn up in front of your friends.
But an honourable son or daughter will drag their parents forward and proudly tell their friends how awesome their parents are… they will want to make their parents happy and contented in all kinds of ways.
I remember the story of the couple who had just had a son. After his birth, the father said to his wife. “Woman, I am going to give up my weekly supply of tobacco so we can raise the money so our son can have a college education.” His wife agreed and offered to give up things as well.
So the years passed… Sonny grew little by little. He went through school, and finally the big day came when he was sent off to college in the big city. His parents had saved and saved ever since he was born to be able to afford to send him to this college… and at long last their dream had reached fruition.
After quite some time, I don’t know if it was months or years, the father awoke one morning with a strong desire to see his son. He just wanted to know he was okay. So he saddles up the horse and dray, kisses his wife goodbye and begins the long journey to the far city. As he goes he hums a little tune, he is so happy. What will Sonny look like? Will he have grown? He will be pretty clever now… These thoughts and more rush through his head as he rides though the countryside towards his precious son.
Finally the father arrives at the College. He drives in through the gates and looks around. Suddenly he hears laughter… coming along the drive is a group of young students all as merry as could be. In their midst is a tall well built lad. Yes, it was Sonny. He had a crowd of friends surrounding him and he was making jokes and they loved it. Pride rose in the father’s breast to see his boy… his son, the centre of attention. Will a voice full of emotion and gladness; he called out, “Sonny!”
The group pause… look round at the scruffy stranger on the old dray with the tired weary horse… they see his harness is worn and cracked, they see a man with a hat that has holes, and his shoes are worn… and his trousers have been mended times with out number. They look into his kindly weathered face...
Sonny steps forward with an arrogant step. “Mister! Who are you? What are you looking for?”
His father stutters in bewilderment, “But my son, it’s me… your Dad. Don’t you know it’s me? Oh Sonny, it’s me!”
Sonny looks round at his friends. They are watching on in astonishment. Was this dirty old fellow really their smart, well dressed friend’s father? They looked back at Sonny wondering what he was going to say.
But hardhearted young fellow that he was Sonny drew himself up to his tallest height and said, “Mister, I have no idea who you are, but you have obviously mistaken me for someone else. Please get that heap of junk out of this school yard immediately… Good day to you!”
Sonny turned to his friends and said, “Come on fellows, let’s go.”
The crowd laughed heartily at the wit of their clever school friend and moved off with him… leaving a very sad, lonely and dejected father sitting in his dray. Tears came to the poor mans eyes as he remembered all that he and his dear wife had given up for their son. For years and years they had given everything they had for their son, only for him to disown them in front of his friends.
Proud young Sonny had made a huge mistake, and paid dearly for it with what came next.
The father headed for home, becoming more downcast as he went. He eventually rode into the farmyard and unhitching the horse he led her into a field. Then he staggered into the house… with his head hung in deep sorrow. His wife looked up to see him enter the kitchen. She was startled to see the look on his face.
“What’s the matter?” She cried.
“Mother, get me a drink of tea please, and I’ll tell you it all.” He replied.
The dear lady rushed to brew some tea, whilst her husband went into the other room… He walked over to the mantelpiece and picked up and old tin. It was the tin they had stored their savings in since wee Sonny was born. It was now empty.
The man whom his son had rejected walked over to his old chair by the fireplace and sat down with the tin still in his hands.
A short time latter, the woman entered with a large mug of tea for her husband… but it was too late. Her husband was dead… dead from a broken heart, killed by a dishonourable son.
The father had given so much for his son, but the boy could not see it. He was blind to the goodness of his parents, and paid dearly for his selfishness.
Children, honour your parents, for it is good. Please do not be like the mean son in my story. Would you like to hurt your Daddy like that?
Just imagine what would have happened if Sonny had gladly reached forward and said, “Dad! I am so pleased to see you… come, meet my friends, and we shall show you round.”
And then turned to his pals, “Friends, this is my Dad… he is the only reason I am here before you today… If any of you laugh at him because he is wearing worn clothes, let me tell you I will punch that fellows head… because I proud of him, so there!”
That is all it would have taken. Could you do that for your parents? I hope so!
Some young people may rebel at the idea of looking up to their Mother or their Father. They may call them old fogies or the “old man” or “old woman” to their friends… but is that the right way to treat the ones who cared for you when you were small? Is it the right way to treat the man or woman who picked you up when you fell down, sat beside you when you were ill, or played those splendid games with you in the park? When you needed them most, they were there… but now you don’t need them you despise them and hate to have them turn up in front of your friends.
But an honourable son or daughter will drag their parents forward and proudly tell their friends how awesome their parents are… they will want to make their parents happy and contented in all kinds of ways.
I remember the story of the couple who had just had a son. After his birth, the father said to his wife. “Woman, I am going to give up my weekly supply of tobacco so we can raise the money so our son can have a college education.” His wife agreed and offered to give up things as well.
So the years passed… Sonny grew little by little. He went through school, and finally the big day came when he was sent off to college in the big city. His parents had saved and saved ever since he was born to be able to afford to send him to this college… and at long last their dream had reached fruition.
After quite some time, I don’t know if it was months or years, the father awoke one morning with a strong desire to see his son. He just wanted to know he was okay. So he saddles up the horse and dray, kisses his wife goodbye and begins the long journey to the far city. As he goes he hums a little tune, he is so happy. What will Sonny look like? Will he have grown? He will be pretty clever now… These thoughts and more rush through his head as he rides though the countryside towards his precious son.
Finally the father arrives at the College. He drives in through the gates and looks around. Suddenly he hears laughter… coming along the drive is a group of young students all as merry as could be. In their midst is a tall well built lad. Yes, it was Sonny. He had a crowd of friends surrounding him and he was making jokes and they loved it. Pride rose in the father’s breast to see his boy… his son, the centre of attention. Will a voice full of emotion and gladness; he called out, “Sonny!”
The group pause… look round at the scruffy stranger on the old dray with the tired weary horse… they see his harness is worn and cracked, they see a man with a hat that has holes, and his shoes are worn… and his trousers have been mended times with out number. They look into his kindly weathered face...
Sonny steps forward with an arrogant step. “Mister! Who are you? What are you looking for?”
His father stutters in bewilderment, “But my son, it’s me… your Dad. Don’t you know it’s me? Oh Sonny, it’s me!”
Sonny looks round at his friends. They are watching on in astonishment. Was this dirty old fellow really their smart, well dressed friend’s father? They looked back at Sonny wondering what he was going to say.
But hardhearted young fellow that he was Sonny drew himself up to his tallest height and said, “Mister, I have no idea who you are, but you have obviously mistaken me for someone else. Please get that heap of junk out of this school yard immediately… Good day to you!”
Sonny turned to his friends and said, “Come on fellows, let’s go.”
The crowd laughed heartily at the wit of their clever school friend and moved off with him… leaving a very sad, lonely and dejected father sitting in his dray. Tears came to the poor mans eyes as he remembered all that he and his dear wife had given up for their son. For years and years they had given everything they had for their son, only for him to disown them in front of his friends.
Proud young Sonny had made a huge mistake, and paid dearly for it with what came next.
The father headed for home, becoming more downcast as he went. He eventually rode into the farmyard and unhitching the horse he led her into a field. Then he staggered into the house… with his head hung in deep sorrow. His wife looked up to see him enter the kitchen. She was startled to see the look on his face.
“What’s the matter?” She cried.
“Mother, get me a drink of tea please, and I’ll tell you it all.” He replied.
The dear lady rushed to brew some tea, whilst her husband went into the other room… He walked over to the mantelpiece and picked up and old tin. It was the tin they had stored their savings in since wee Sonny was born. It was now empty.
The man whom his son had rejected walked over to his old chair by the fireplace and sat down with the tin still in his hands.
A short time latter, the woman entered with a large mug of tea for her husband… but it was too late. Her husband was dead… dead from a broken heart, killed by a dishonourable son.
The father had given so much for his son, but the boy could not see it. He was blind to the goodness of his parents, and paid dearly for his selfishness.
Children, honour your parents, for it is good. Please do not be like the mean son in my story. Would you like to hurt your Daddy like that?
Just imagine what would have happened if Sonny had gladly reached forward and said, “Dad! I am so pleased to see you… come, meet my friends, and we shall show you round.”
And then turned to his pals, “Friends, this is my Dad… he is the only reason I am here before you today… If any of you laugh at him because he is wearing worn clothes, let me tell you I will punch that fellows head… because I proud of him, so there!”
That is all it would have taken. Could you do that for your parents? I hope so!