Honor Elders

The Ministry of Men

“Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2-3).

Principles established in the Old Testament are worthy of consideration. Some laws of the old covenant are repeated as guidelines for believers in the new covenant era. It is good and right to honor the elders. Paul gave the commandment as instructive to the believers in Ephesus. He included the promise of long life to those who would give honor to their mothers and fathers.

In a culture where “new and improved” is touted as superior, that which is aged is undervalued. Computers must be updated frequently and programs constantly upgraded to maintain relevance. As a result the same perception is often applied to all materials and even to relationships. Marriages are discarded and replaced with new relationships. People quickly tire of the tried and true and look for something fresh and new.

True values are time tested and lasting. Marriages should be “until death us do part.” Families are forever and relationships with friends should be worth maintaining for life. Showing respect for elders should be constant. Taking time to honor our parents and others who have years of experience must become a part of our culture again.

Elders in the church should also be revered. Paul also instructed Timothy to give special honor to those who labor in the word and doctrine (1 Timothy 5:17). A new appreciation for our history and our heritage needs to be rebirthed in the church. Knowledge of the sacrifices and suffering of those in the past will cause our admiration to grow and our appreciation to be expressed.

Thanks to all those who have blazed the trail and shown the way. We walk in the footsteps of our leaders and trod the paths of faithful patriarchs. We must always honor those who have gone before to make our road a little easier.