Honor Your Father (Eph. 6:1-4)
1
Today is Father's Day. Father's Day-a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. Sonora Louise Smart Dodd was the oldest of six children raised by their father, William Jackson Smart, when their mother died during childbirth. Sonora honored and revered her father, and while listening to a Mother's Day sermon, in 1909, she determined there should also be a day to honor fathers.
Having been raised by her father, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. it was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man.
In 1910 Sonora chose June 19th, as the day to celebrate Father's Day because that was her father's birthday.
In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. In 1926 The formation of National Father's Day Committee in New York City. In 1956 Father's Day was recognized by Joint Resolution of Congress. In 1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring that the third Sunday of June as Father's Day. And in 1972 President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday in June.
Every age has its peculiar properties. The child has different thoughts of his father at different ages. There are several different evaluations of Father at different ages by different persons:
One goes like this:
Having been raised by her father, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. it was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man.
In 1910 Sonora chose June 19th, as the day to celebrate Father's Day because that was her father's birthday.
In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. In 1926 The formation of National Father's Day Committee in New York City. In 1956 Father's Day was recognized by Joint Resolution of Congress. In 1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring that the third Sunday of June as Father's Day. And in 1972 President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday in June.
Every age has its peculiar properties. The child has different thoughts of his father at different ages. There are several different evaluations of Father at different ages by different persons:
One goes like this:
When I was 5 years old: "My father knows everything."
10 years old: "My father knows quite a lot."
15 years old: "I know as much as my father does."
20 years old: "To tell the truth, my father does not know anything."
30 years old: "Nevertheless, my father knows something."
40 years old: "It would be fine if I consulted my father."
50 years old: "My father knows everything."
60 years old: "If only my father were alive and I could consult him about this and that. I should have appreciated him properly when he was alive."
Another evaluation at different ages goes like this:
When I was...
4 years: My daddy can do anything.
7 years: My dad knows a lot, a whole lot.
8 years: My father doesn't know quite everything.
12 years: Oh, well, naturally Father doesn't know that, either.
14 years: Father? Hopelessly old-fashioned.
21 years: Oh, that man is out-of-date. What did you expect?
25 years: He knows a little bit about it, but not much.
30 years: Maybe we ought to find out what Dad thinks.
35 years: A little patience. Let's get Dad's assessment before we do anything.
50 years: I wonder what Dad would have thought about that. He was pretty smart.
60 years: My Dad knew absolutely everything!
65 years: I'd give anything if Dad were here so I could talk this over with him. I really miss that man.
Yet, there is another evaluation. Ann Landers' evaluation of "My Father" is:
4 years: My daddy can do anything.
7 years: My dad knows a lot, a whole lot.
8 years: My father doesn't know quite everything.
12 years: Oh, well, naturally Father doesn't know that, either.
14 years: Father? Hopelessly old-fashioned.
21 years: Oh, that man is out-of-date. What did you expect?
25 years: He knows a little bit about it, but not much.
30 years: Maybe we ought to find out what Dad thinks.
35 years: A little patience. Let's get Dad's assessment before we do anything.
50 years: I wonder what Dad would have thought about that. He was pretty smart.
60 years: My Dad knew absolutely everything!
65 years: I'd give anything if Dad were here so I could talk this over with him. I really miss that man.
Yet, there is another evaluation. Ann Landers' evaluation of "My Father" is:
My Father
When I was 4 years old: My daddy can do anything.
When I was 5 years old: My daddy knows a whole lot.
When I was 6 years old: My dad is smarter than your dad.
When I was 8 years old: My dad doesn't know exactly everything.
When I was 10 years old: In the olden days, when my dad grew up, things were sure different.
When I was 12 years old: Oh, well, naturally, Dad doesn't know anything about that.
He is too old to remember his childhood.
When I was 14 years old: Don't pay any attention to my dad. He is so old-fashioned.
When I was 21 years old: Him? My Lord, he's hopelessly out of date.
When I was 25 years old: Dad knows about it, but then he should, because he has been around so long.
When I was 30 years old: Maybe we should ask Dad what he thinks. After all, he's had a lot of experience.
When I was 35 years old: I'm not doing a single thing until I talk to Dad.
When I was 40 years old: I wonder how Dad would have handled it. He was so wise.
When I was 50 years old: I'd give anything if Dad were here now so I could talk this over with him. Too bad I didn't appreciate how smart he was. I could have learned a lot from him. I sure do miss him.
The above three evaluations of father at different ages are different little bit, but we can find one common point.
That is, your appreciation or evaluation of your father is very high when you are little, then it gets worse to a certain point of age, then it goes up as you become old and mature.
Who are F.A.T.H.E.R.S.?
When I was 4 years old: My daddy can do anything.
When I was 5 years old: My daddy knows a whole lot.
When I was 6 years old: My dad is smarter than your dad.
When I was 8 years old: My dad doesn't know exactly everything.
When I was 10 years old: In the olden days, when my dad grew up, things were sure different.
When I was 12 years old: Oh, well, naturally, Dad doesn't know anything about that.
He is too old to remember his childhood.
When I was 14 years old: Don't pay any attention to my dad. He is so old-fashioned.
When I was 21 years old: Him? My Lord, he's hopelessly out of date.
When I was 25 years old: Dad knows about it, but then he should, because he has been around so long.
When I was 30 years old: Maybe we should ask Dad what he thinks. After all, he's had a lot of experience.
When I was 35 years old: I'm not doing a single thing until I talk to Dad.
When I was 40 years old: I wonder how Dad would have handled it. He was so wise.
When I was 50 years old: I'd give anything if Dad were here now so I could talk this over with him. Too bad I didn't appreciate how smart he was. I could have learned a lot from him. I sure do miss him.
The above three evaluations of father at different ages are different little bit, but we can find one common point.
That is, your appreciation or evaluation of your father is very high when you are little, then it gets worse to a certain point of age, then it goes up as you become old and mature.
Who are F.A.T.H.E.R.S.?
"F" aithful.
"A" lways there.
"T" rustworthy.
"H" onoring.
"E" ver-loving.
"R" ighteous.
"S" upportive.
2
Paul in today's passage tells you: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right."
"Obey" in Greek is "hoop-akouo". "Hoop" means "below" and "akouo" means hear. That is, "obey" means "hear from below." Thus, "obey" means "listen carefully with humble mind and do what you hear."
However, you do what you hear from your parents "in the Lord."
You will obey your parents within the boundary of God's commandments.
Your father will not tell you to steal somebody else's car. But if he tells you to do, you do not have to obey him. As your parents love you very much they will ask you to those things which are good for you.
Paul also tells you to "honor your father and mother" (v. 2).
While "obeying" is your outward attitude of "hearing and doing what your parents tell you to do," "honoring" is your inner attitude of "loving and respecting your parents."
"Obeying your parents" is important because it pleases God.
"Obeying your parents whom you can see" is important because it makes you obey God whom you cannot see but you love very much.
"Obeying and honoring your parents" is important because by doing so you will receive God's promise.
God's promise is that "it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth"(v. 3).
In Exodus 20:12 God promises you that "If you honor your father and your mother, your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you."
"Obey" in Greek is "hoop-akouo". "Hoop" means "below" and "akouo" means hear. That is, "obey" means "hear from below." Thus, "obey" means "listen carefully with humble mind and do what you hear."
However, you do what you hear from your parents "in the Lord."
You will obey your parents within the boundary of God's commandments.
Your father will not tell you to steal somebody else's car. But if he tells you to do, you do not have to obey him. As your parents love you very much they will ask you to those things which are good for you.
Paul also tells you to "honor your father and mother" (v. 2).
While "obeying" is your outward attitude of "hearing and doing what your parents tell you to do," "honoring" is your inner attitude of "loving and respecting your parents."
"Obeying your parents" is important because it pleases God.
"Obeying your parents whom you can see" is important because it makes you obey God whom you cannot see but you love very much.
"Obeying and honoring your parents" is important because by doing so you will receive God's promise.
God's promise is that "it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth"(v. 3).
In Exodus 20:12 God promises you that "If you honor your father and your mother, your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you."
3
Do you love your father as much as you love your God?
Obey your father by listening carefully to your father and do what he asks you to do in the Lord.
Honor your father by loving and respecting him from your innermost part because your father loves you very much with his endless love as your God the Father loves you very much with His everlasting love.
Obey your father by listening carefully to your father and do what he asks you to do in the Lord.
Honor your father by loving and respecting him from your innermost part because your father loves you very much with his endless love as your God the Father loves you very much with His everlasting love.
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