Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
This commandment is described as being the first one with promise, by the apostle Paul, and it has to do with honoring not only our parents, but also those to whom God has given authority, including pastors, elders, rulers, governors, and duly elected presidents. One of the reasons for this wise command is so that God's established order may be recognized across the entire spectrum of the human experience. Those who in their earlier years are not taught to respect their parents, will sooner or later be found to be rebellious against their government, for a lack of respect knows no bounds, and will be manifested whenever and wherever God-ordained authority is established.
No parent on this earth has ever done everything right, for it is a school from which we never graduate, yet children are required to render obedience and respect to their parents, even though they may not always agree with the laws of the home. This is one of the more serious issues we need to address in our intercourse with our children, for it involves a very necessary and fundamental principle of interaction, without which there can be no social stability in the family or in the wider community. Once parents to not command their children to commit outright wrongs, the children are to give them both the respect and the benefit of the doubt, in cases where their opinions may differ, hence the reason why the apostle counsels children to obey their parents "In the Lord". Let's read:
Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
It's not everything in the Bible that we may agree with, for it is often the case in certain situations that we do not see eye to eye with God, yet we are required to walk by faith, trusting that He knows and does what is best for us, and therefore His instructions are to be implicitly obeyed, even if we do not agree with them. The same principle holds true for children, and those who are under the care and authority of guardians, and duly elected officials, for we are to render them due respect and obedience, once they do not force us to do wrong, even though we may be at odds with what they say and do. This duty is clearly stated in the Bible, and should be faithfully followed so that there may be peace and cohesiveness in governance, both in the home and in the larger community. Let's read:
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good" ..... 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
However, a very sad situation has obtained in our world today where a lack of respect for both parental and governmental authority is looked upon as a strength instead of a weakness, and for this reason many children presume to treat their parents as if they were their peers, and answer them as they would a child, or a mere pet. And the problem does not stop there, for there are those who presume to publicly demean and malign our president, as if he were not put in office through the duly elected process. As a matter of fact, much of what is said and done under the banner of freedom of speech, is really a flagrant violation of the command which says "Honor thy father and thy mother", therefore we should not be surprised if our kids take up the very same strain in their communications with us.
In our own experiences, let us be certain to set the right example, by honoring God and those to whom He has delegated parental and secular authority, for if we do, our children will also generally follow in our footsteps. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that bids us to look to Christ as our example in all things, for if He, as the Sovereign of the universe could humble Himself and be obedient, we too who are fallen and created should be more than willing to subject ourselves to any and every God-ordained authority. Let's read:
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!