If any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God. —1 Timothy 5:4
Contrary to what the world tells us, the command to honor our parents has no expiration date or conditions. Whatever our age or marital status, whether our parents are living or not, and regardless of their spiritual condition, God expects us to honor them.
When adult children break ties with their parents, when they refuse to seek out and value their counsel, they deprive themselves of great spiritual blessing and protection.
For me, obedience to God’s command means honoring my father, who has been with the Lord for many years. It also means honoring and caring for my widowed mother.
The story of Ruth is a poignant illustration of a single woman’s commitment to care for her widowed mother-in-law. Ruth put Naomi’s interests ahead of her own. God not only used Ruth’s obedience to restore joy and healing to Naomi’s life but also gave Ruth a wonderful husband and blessed the world with Jesus, a descendant of that marriage.
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Singled Out for Him: Embracing the gift, the blessings, and the challenges of singleness
©2023 Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
Ask God to help you better understand your parents. How can you help care for any needs that they might have?