2 Timothy 3:1: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 Timothy 3:2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Among the characteristics of End Times conditions in society are men shall be lovers of their own selves and being disobedient to parents. The world has undergone tremendous transformation in recent years entering the digital age with a bang where nowadays even young kids are often glued to their mobile devices. There has not been a greater disconnect between the young and old during our time where the young wakes up to all sorts of excitement everyday and views the world as their oyster while the old walks into sunset years confused and fearful of what future awaits.
The recent referendum in UK to leave Europe pitted the young against the old in a fairly consistent pattern. The young voted to remain in Europe while the old voted to exit Europe. Many young people were angry with their parents after the result of the polls. They were angry that these elderly folks were out to ruin their future.
http://www.macleans.ca/news/world/generation-eu-how-brexit-pitted-old-against-young/
Young People have a Right to be Angry at Brexit but not at their Parents
The dichotomy between the young and old is one of the manifestations of the End Times conditions. It is not uncommon to observe the young showing disrespect towards the elderly in day to day activities. It is rather common to see children talking back rudely or screaming at their parents when they couldn’t get their way. It is an embarrassing sight but unfortunately, some parents simply take such disobedience and disrespect nonchalantly in their strides without correcting the children. These children will grow up someday and the consequence is not pretty.
In recent time, parental neglect has become an issue. Parents have been abandoned by their children and some are living out their sunset years in destitute. This will become a more acute problem with the coming silver tsunami where ageing population is going to place greater strain on the younger population to support the elderly.
The Maintenance of Parents Act was enacted during the nineties in Singapore to address this issue of children having a duty and responsibility to care for their aged parents. While it is true the State cannot legislate filial piety, it is nonetheless, an important legislation to ensure delinquents do not pass their duties towards their parents to society.
Parents Compel their Children to Support them
When Parents and Children Fight over Money
The time-honoured commandment from the Bible to honour parents is not a unique commandment for the children of Israel. Society at large adopts such a virtue where parents are to be honoured.
Exodus 20:12: Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Deuteronomy 5:16: Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
This commandment given to the children of Israel is among the Ten Commandments given where observing this specific commandment brings blessing of longevity. The rest of the commandments are to be obeyed failing which punishment is certain and no promised of blessings is pronounced to those who keep those commandments.
So by right, the children of Israel should be motivated to keep this commandment to honour their parents. Unfortunately, honouring parents require more than lip service; it cost time and money as well. Some found ingenuous ways to get out of this obligation to honour their parents using Jehovah God as their excuse by gifting away the portion for their parents. Hence, when the Lord Jesus Christ showed up on earth, He condemned those who schemed their ways out of honouring their parents.
Matthew 15:4: For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
Matthew 15:5: But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
Matthew 15:6: And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Mark 7:10: For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
Mark 7:11: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
Mark 7:12: And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
Mark 7:13: Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
For the New Testament Christian, honouring parents is still an active commandment whether the parents are saved or lost. It is still a commandment that comes with a promise of blessing to those who keep it.
Ephesians 6:2: Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Ephesians 6:3: That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
The burden of caring for parents belongs to the children and not the Church or the State. It is not just the children’s duty and responsibility to care for their elderly parents, it is the right thing to do and is acceptable before God.
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.
Honouring parents does come with a caveat though. It is the Lord who commands believers to honour parents. However, there might be occasions where honouring parents would dishonour God and thus appealing to a higher authority in heaven is the proper avenue.
The God fearing king Asa had an idolatrous mother. For the honour of God and for the sake of his subjects, he had to remove his mother from being queen. In addition, he destroyed her idol and made her an example to prevent his people from falling into idolatry and incur the wrath of Jehovah God.
2 Chronicles 15:16: And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
1 Kings 15:13: And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.
Idolatry is a serious offence. King Asa’s mother could meet her Maker much earlier had the law of Moses been applied to her. That was as much as king Asa could do to honour his mother.
Another example would be the Lord’s attitude towards His own mother and siblings while He was busy ministering to the people.
Matthew 12:46: While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Matthew 12:47: Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
Matthew 12:48: But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Matthew 12:49: And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Matthew 12:50: For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
The Lord was surrounded by the crowd of disciples eager to listen to Him. Someone told Him His mother and siblings were waiting outside to speak with Him. Just when the crowd expected the Lord to make His way to see His family members, He did the exact opposite. He questioned who were His family members. He then stretched out His hands towards His disciples and honoured them as much as He would honour His family. The Lord affirmed those who do the will of God are considered part of His family.
So the Lord does not give blood ties priority over the spiritual things of God. Blood ties and kinships count little as far as God’s kingdom is concerned. It is the Lord who commands His people to honour their parents but however, if honouring parents takes priority and supersedes or comes into conflict with spiritual truths, then such honouring of parents is misplaced.
The children of Israel were commanded to honour their parents who were supposed to be people of Jehovah God which should not be any issue. But for the New Testament Christians, they may have unsaved parents where they are still obligated to honour them. There will be times of dilemma where these unsaved parents would demand them to perform certain undertakings that would come into conflict with biblical teachings. Then honouring them on that matter would bring dishonour to the Lord.
Some issue could be more treacherous and would result in eternal consequence not to be trifled with. If a child of God is teaching his children the way of the Lord and his unsaved parents come along to contradict and confuse the children, then he has to put a stop to such devilish attempts to damn the children to a Christless eternity. It is better to honour such parents by caring for them without living with them under the same roof for the sake of the souls of the children.
Some damnable influence from unsaved people will become insidious and poison the minds of the young ones a little at a time. It might be too late to wake up to the horror of losing the children to the devil for honouring the parents above honouring the Lord. Why give the devil opportunity to turn unsaved parents to become a horrific offender deserving the worst punishment for offending the little ones?
Matthew 18:6: But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
The tragic downfall of Eli serves as a good example of putting blood ties above the Lord.
1 Samuel 3:13: For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
1 Samuel 2:29: Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?
When God finally dispensed judgment, Eli and his two rebellious sons as well as his daughter-in-law died that day when Israel was defeated before the Philistines. Honouring family members above the Lord has serious consequence.
Nevertheless, it is still the obligation of a Christian to honour his parents in ways that do not dishonour the Lord.
Ephesians 6:1: Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Ephesians 6:2: Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Ephesians 6:3: That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
In honouring parents, Christians are to obey their parents in the Lord, not above the Lord. Of course if parents are unsaved, much interceding for them before the throne of God is paramount and living out a good testimony before them is an utmost necessity.
May the Lord grant wisdom and peace to those who honour their parents acceptably before the Lord in this wicked and perverse generation.