Proverbs 23:22-25 – The call to respect parents

It is true that a child’s education begins in the home. To raise godly children is one of the greatest contributions any parent can make to God’s Kingdom. Therefore, the most critical task in parenting is to show our children the ways of our perfect God. A logical response that any child should give his parents should be respect and honour. In fact, this is what God expects of all children. In the fifth commandment given by the Lord in Exodus 20:12, He said, “Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.” It is the only commandment that comes with a promise. Here in Proverbs 23:22-25 we see the demand of the fifth commandment being underscored. Children are urged to honour their parents.

Firstly, a child’s respect of his or her parents is seen in the way he or she harkens to the father’s instructions. And secondly, in how one treats one’s mother who has become old, long-winded and garrulous. Verse 23 tells us that children must remember to maintain the godly lessons they have been taught in life. “Buy truth and do not sell it” is a way of saying that we should keep those truth imparted by godly parents. It is a call to children to never depart from sound wisdom given by their godly father. They should instead seek to obey his instruction and live out the insightful counsel he gives.

The end product of being receptive to our parents’ teaching is the cultivation of a righteous lifestyle. And when that happens, our parent will be thrilled. Hence, we should live in a way that will bring rejoicing to our parents and make them proud that we are their children.  In whatever status we are in let’s remember the words of Paul in Colossians 3: 20-21, “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”