Do you even honor him at all?

Readership: All
Theme: Special Post for Fathers’ Day, 2024/6/16 (Sunday).
Author’s Note: This essay was written on 2023/6/1.  It was intended to be included in the mini-theme of Honoring Fathers at that time (running from 2023/6/26 to 2023/7/10), but was unfortunately lost in cyberspace until it was found on 2023/11/12.
Length: 800 words
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Introduction

To honor one’s father and mother is the fifth of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16, and it is the first Commandment that appears in Leviticus 19:3.  This commandment is reiterated in Ephesians 6:1-4.

To those who follow this commandment, God promises a good, long life.

But how much do we honor our fathers?  I mean, really?  Do we even know what it means to honor our father?

Given the heavy emphasis on ‘Equality’, Feminism, Individualism, and “personal liberties” which amount to idolatry and/or self-centeredness, the deemphasis of religion and tradition, and the rejection of male authority, masculinity, and ‘Patriarchy’, many Westerners have forgotten what it means to honor their father.  Instead, one’s Father is esteemed as a ‘friend’ or a preeminent equal at best, or is regarded as a wife-supplicating ninny at worst.

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It’s past time for us to acquaint ourselves with some long lost habits of Christian morality. So here I’ve made a list of some very common ways we can honor our fathers.

Check yourself.

  1. Address him by a proper title. (c.f. Jesus in Luke 11:2)
  2. Stand up and face him when he enters the room (Leviticus 19:32).
  3. Give him a warm enthusiastic greeting whenever you see him in person. (Luke 15:20)
  4. If you live with him, stop what you’re doing and give him a warm greeting when he comes home after finishing his work for the day. (Luke 15:20)
  5. If you do not live with him, visit him periodically, or else call him to “check in”; give him a report of your activities and ask him how he’s doing (Hebrews 13:17).
  6. Inform him immediately of things or events that pertain to his interests. (Genesis 45:9-13)
  7. Recognize him as the only man in the world who truly cares for you and has your best interests in mind. Dwell in the mindset that you are blessed to have his trust and his favor.* (Proverbs 1:8-9; Proverbs 17:6) Let this mindset be demonstrated through your interactions with him and others.
  8. Acknowledge that he holds a position of authority over your life and that you have responsibilities to him.* (Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20)
  9. Ask for his advice or input on family matters, complex issues, or technical subjects in which he has expertise. (Proverbs 13:1)
  10. Be honest with him. When honesty is embarassing, be humble, modest, and respectful. (Luke 15:20-21)
  11. Let him speak freely without interruption or objection. Desist from arguing with him over petty matters. (Proverbs 1:8-9; 6:20-21)
  12. Never speak sharply to him. Always talk to him very politely and with a low voice. (1 Timothy 5:1)
  13. Learn his ways. Imitate his better qualities.* (John 5:19-20)
  14. Have the inner vision to see what he would think or want done in a given situation and carry it out as he would see fit.* (John 5:19-20)
  15. Make a diligent effort to conform to his wishes.* (Proverbs 6:20-22; Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20) If you cannot, then offer an intelligent apology (not a lame excuse), extend sincere regrets, and acknowledge that you will take responsibility for your decisions.
  16. Respond to his requests quickly and with diligence and joyful enthusiasm.* (John 5:19-20)
  17. Endure his correction and discipline with diligence and earnestness.* (Hebrews 12:7-9)
  18. Make something of yourself and stay out of trouble so that he can be joyful and proud of you and not ashamed. (1 Timothy 5:8; Proverbs 23:24)
  19. Extol his name. Speak positively about him to others.* (c.f. Jesus in John 17:6-8,26)
  20. Be loyal to him. Defend his reputation.* (c.f. Jesus in John 17:10-14) Be on guard about mentioning or acknowledging his problems and weaknesses to others in casual conversation. Avoid it if at all possible without being dishonest and/or violating trust. Reprimand others who are under his domain of authority who dishonor him, ignore his wishes, or make light of him.

* Even if you happen to have a poor father, if he doesn’t care about you, or is irresponsible, etc., you can still maintain these attitudes / habits as an act of obedience to God. By God’s grace, your obedience in this could become the vehicle of his redemption.

Readers are invited to add other ways to honor one’s father, or offer stories of how one’s father was honored, or give testimonies of how honoring one’s father brought blessings to the family.

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