“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3)
In Ephesians 6:1-9, Paul addresses children, fathers, servants and masters.
It is clear that children are to obey their parents, “in the Lord.” That means they are to obey unless they are told to do something that is contrary to Scripture, something that may be illegal, immoral or unethical.
It is wise for us to obey our parents “in the Lord” and do what we can to honor them, “That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:3)
Several thoughts come to mind as to how we should “honor” our parents, especially as we both mature.
1. Appreciate them. Tell them you love them and are thankful for what they have done for you. Value their wisdom and guidance. Spend time with them, and so on.
2. Show them respect. Accept their authority. “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” (Colossians 3:20)
3. Provide for them in practical ways, if and when the time comes. Make sure they have what they need – food, shelter, clothing, and so on.
In a similar manner, Paul writes about the widows and relatives in 1 Timothy 5.
“Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.” (verses 3-4, NLT) He goes on to say, “But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.” (verse 8, NLT)