Nothing demonstrates genuine spirituality like
caring for people. Having shown forgiveness to enemies, and reaped a repentant
sinner, His mother’s needs now occupy His attention. When
Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he
saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!Jn 19:26(ASV) I know of preachers who evangelise, are busy at ministry, yet have
issues with their parents. How important is this matter of caring for parents?
So much so that it is the first commandment
with a promise. Honor thy father
and mother (which is the first commandment with promise) Eph
6:2(ASV). Now what greater honour than to care for them? To deliberately ignore
their needs whilst keeping a façade of spirituality in praying loudly in other
tongues and attending every church and fellowship meeting amounts to a denial
of the faith. If anyone does
not take care of his own relatives, especially his immediate family, he has
denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever 1Tm
5:8(ISV). So how do we balance ministry with care of parents? First realize care
of parents is no distraction from ministry; indeed
it is the beginning of it! But if a widow
has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to respect their
own family by repaying their parents, for this is pleasing in God's sight 1Tm
5:4(ISV). God has strong words for those neglecting their care; so take care of
their needs. And just before you excuse yourself that you send money across,
what of their emotional health? Are they grappling with loneliness in the midst
of a bustling and busy house? Spend some
time to chat with them.
Jesus did not permit any excuse for ignoring
them. He rebuked the Pharisees saying But you teach
that if people have something they could use to help their father or mother,
but say, 'This is Corban' (which means, it belongs to God),they are excused
from helping their father or mother Mk
7:11(GNB). Many of us assume the “something they could use” here is always money.
Do you realize it could be time? David who
in wilderness travails foreshadowed the Messiah’s sufferings also made out time
to care for his. David went from there to Mizpah of Moab, and he told
the king of Moab, "Please let my father and mother come and stay with you
until I know what God is going to do for me." 1Sa 22:3(ISV) The point is this: if the sufferings of the cross and preoccupation with
bearing my sins did not deter Jesus from attending to His mother’s welfare we
must look out for them also, spiritually, physically, emotionally , e.t.c. Let not
pressures of earning a living, and making ends meet, or yet ministry make you
neglect them. How are you caring for yours?
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