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The first four Commandments in the Ten Commandments deal with our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
The last six deal with our relationship with our fellow man.
The first Commandment dealing with our fellow man is, "Honor Thy Father and Mother.
" Think about it, the Creator of all life, who set the stars in place, and instructed the seas not to exceed their boundaries, placed honoring our parents as the first Commandment dealing with others.
When it comes to earthly relationships it is the most important Commandment.
Why, because if we honor our parents we will never violate the last five Commandments.
Many young people today are having all sorts of problems.
It's unbelievable what kids are getting into these days, and the price they pay for their behavior.
I for one thought that honoring parents was a good thing to do, but never fully understood the importance our Lord places on the Commandment.
Understanding the importance of the Commandment answers all questions regarding our youth, and the problems they are facing.
What happens when people violate the Commandments, "Thou Shalt Not Kill," or, Thou Shalt Not Steal?" There is a huge price to pay when people violate theseCommandments, and yet I never understood the price youngsters pay when they fail to honor their parents.
I am yelling now, "THE REASON THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS IS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT OBEYING THEIR PARENTS.
" Problems kids face are actually symptoms of the real problem which is not honoring their parents through obedience, and oh yes, there is a penalty.
The problems kids have, are the penalties they are paying when they fail to honor their parents.
Honoring parents is not a, "filler," Commandment.
It's a big deal to our Father, and when it comes to dealing with others it's the most important Commandment.
Our Father gave no instruction to parents in His Ten Commandments, only to our children, and honoring parents is the only Commandment with a promise.
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for it is right to Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.
(Ephesians 6:1-3) No promises in the other Commandments, and what is opposite of, "may be well with you," and, "live long on the earth?" Many youngsters are going through the grinder of life because they have failed to understand our Lord's Commandment to Honor Father and Mother.
I ran into an old friend in a store, and she was telling me about her four children.
She stated with pride that two of her kids were doing very well.
Then she lowered her head and said, "my other two kids are having a hard time, they just refused to listen to me.
" When I present, "IKE," in group sessions someone always brings up the subject of parenting, insinuating that if kids have bad parents their disobedience is understandable.
As a guidance counselor I've encountered a number of bad parents; however, the Commandment doesn't say to honor your father and mother only if they are good parents.
With that kind of reasoning we must believe if we have bad parents it is all right to kill people, or if we have bad parents it's all right to steal.
I know there is lousy parenting going on; however, I've known many youngsters who obeyed bad parents, and are really doing well.
To the contrary I've known kids who disobeyed truly great parents, and are doing just terrible.
The Commandment has nothing to do with what parents are doing.
It only speaks to what a youngster should be doing.
I know I am not the only one.
We have totally missed the importance of His Commandment.
Honoring parents, how could it possibly be the answer? It's just too simple; however, look around at your own family and friends, and you'll see the havoc disobedient youngsters bring to a family.
Disobedience to parents causes great suffering, and disruption in the family unit.
I pray that all the youngsters reading this article will understand the importance of honoring their parents.
The Author of all life stands ready to bless those who obey with a long, successful, happy life, and will be there to greet them when their journey ends.
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