Command 26 : Honor Your Parents | Day 182

Make Wise Appeals!

A mother glanced out her front window and saw some people walking toward the front door. She did not have time to talk with them right then, so she told her daughter to tell them she was not at home. How could this daughter honor her mother without disobeying God’s Word, which instructs us not to lie? (See Colossians 3:9.)

Honoring parents does not mean we are to obey a request to do something that is contrary to the higher law of God.

Daniel and other young men of Judah had been taken as captives to Babylon to receive special training in the service of the King. When Daniel and his three friends were given the King’s meat to eat and wine to drink, they knew they could not partake of it, because doing so would be contrary to God’s Law. Therefore, Daniel made a wise appeal to his authority and received approval for his request, which solved his moral dilemma and still met the goals of his authority. From this account, we can learn several basic factors involved in making a wise appeal:

1. Develop a Good Rapport Before Making an Appeal: “Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs” (Daniel 1:9). We must trust God to give us favor in the eyes of those to whom we make appeals and realize that God is the only One Who can change their hearts. We should also make sure we have demonstrated the right attitudes and behavior before a conflict arises. If the daughter mentioned in the story above had been characterized by honoring her parents, it is likely that her mother would have been receptive to an appeal from her.

• Explain Convictions Without Condemning: Daniel did not condemn others who ate and drank the King’s provisions. He simply explained his convictions. If the daughter had said to her mother, “You are wrong for asking me to lie for you,” the mother most likely would have reacted. However, if the daughter had respectfully explained her commitment to always tell the truth, the mother probably would have respected her daughter's conviction.
• Understand the Authorities’ Goals and Design a Creative Solution: The main goal of the prince over Daniel was to have healthy young men to put into the King’s service, so Daniel proposed a ten-day test with different foods. The mother’s goal was to avoid the unwanted guests. The daughter could have asked her mom if it would be alright to just tell the guests that she was currently unavailable and to please come back at another time.
• Respect the Position of Authority: Daniel said, “Prove thy servants, I beseech thee … . And as thou seest, deal with thy servants” (Daniel 1:12–13). The daughter should assure her mother that she has a desire to obey her parents in all things, but she should also acknowledge her greater responsibility to obey God as the highest authority.

Regardless of the situations or circumstances we encounter, we should always show honor to our parents.

In your journal this week, I encourage you to record ways that you have honored your parents or failed to honor them, along with any appeals you have made based on your convictions from God’s Word. As examples of how to apply this command to daily life, share with your family and others the lessons you have learned.