One thing that many in this room will one day encounter, and some have already, is how to best honor and care for your elderly parents.
As we know, our society has blurred the roles and purposes of the family. One example of this is the outsourcing of care and education for our children. Here in our church community, we have endeavored to cultivate a robust view of the family, biblical childrearing, and intentional Christian education. But one area that remains largely unmentioned in the church is the care of aging parents. What should be done for them when they can no longer take care of themselves?
We readily admit that the practical questions are as numerous as the variables involved. But a foundational guiding principle to embrace right now to help answer these future questions is this: that God desires for children to honor, love, and care for their parents.
When writing to Timothy regarding the support of widows, the Apostle Paul explained that the responsibility falls first to the family. He said that the children of the widow should learn to show godliness to their own household and repay their parents. This is a basic familial duty and one that Paul says is especially pleasing to God (1 Tim. 5:3–16).
In this, we can also consider the example of our Lord, who, while suffering on the cross, entrusted the care of His mother to the Apostle John. And out of all that Jesus said and did, John thought Jesus’ concern for His mother was significant enough to be recorded in his Gospel account for all eternity.
So, my exhortation to you this morning is to cultivate a heart of honor and care toward your parents, whether these scenarios are twenty years away, a couple of years away, or already unfolding. Begin to think and talk these things through now so that when difficult times and questions do come, at the very least your heart has been prepared before God.
Every situation and solution will be different—note that I have not given specifics—but the command to honor your parents will remain. For some of you, this might require great sacrifice and discomfort. But we know that this is the exact kind of faithfulness that God delights to reward, for it is the first command with a promise (Ex. 20:12, Eph. 6:2–3).
This was exhortation was given on June 15, AD 2025 at King’s Cross Church in Moscow, Idaho