The Bible instructs children to help their parents financially or otherwise as a way of honoring them. It records individuals who helped parents meet their needs so that we could learn from them. In the following section, we look at examples from the Bible that teach us to take care of parents.
1. Joseph (Genesis 47:11–12)
The Bible tells us that when Joseph became governor of Egypt, he brought his father, brothers, and their entire households to Egypt, to preserve them from the famine. This is recorded in Genesis 47:11–12 as follows:
“And Joseph situated his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. Then Joseph PROVIDED HIS FATHER, his brothers, and all his father’s household with bread, according to the number in their families.”
2. Rahab and the two spies (Joshua 2:1–14)
Rahab was a harlot who lived in the city of Jericho with her family. A time came when God commanded the children of Israel to go and conquer this city. Consequently, Joshua, the leader of Israel, sent two spies into the city in order to search it out and bring him a report on its current state.
Rahab hid the two spies in her house when the city’s authorities came seeking them. In return, she asked the spies for a favor that entailed sparing her life and that of her household as well. The spies promised to grant her request as long as she kept the matter of their visit a secret. The following scriptures describe what happened.
Joshua 2:12-14
“Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and SPARE MY FATHER, MY MOTHER, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. So the men answered her, Our lives are for yours if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.’”
Joshua 2:17-21
“So the men said to her: We will be blameless of this oath of yours, which you have made us to swear, unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless YOU BRING YOUR FATHER, YOUR MOTHER, your brothers, and all of your father’s household to your own home. So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath, which you made us swear.’
Then she said, According to your words, so be it.’ And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.”
Joshua 6:22-25
“But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, ‘Go into the harlot’s house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her.’ And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her FATHER, her MOTHER, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel. But they burned the city and all that was in it. Only the silver and gold and the vessels of bronze and iron were put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. AND JOSHUA SPARED RAHAB THE HARLOT, HER FATHER’S HOUSEHOLD, AND ALL THAT SHE HAD. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.”
3. David (1 Samuel 22:1-4)
The story of David and his parents is another example of how we ought to take care of our parents in their time of need. It so happened that King Saul became envious of David because of the latter’s great exploits. Therefore, he pursued David from one city of Israel to another with the aim of killing him. Consequently, David fled to the land of Moab, taking his parents with him to guarantee their safety.
This story is recorded in the book of 1 Samuel 22:1-4 as follows:
“David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down to him. And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered around him. So he became captain of them. And there were about four hundred men with him.
Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab, and he said to the king of Moab, ‘PLEASE LET MY FATHER AND MOTHER COME HERE WITH YOU, till I know what God will do for me.’ So he brought them before the king of Moab, and THEY DWELT WITH HIM ALL THE TIME David WAS IN THE STRONGHOLD.”
4. Jesus, Mary, His mother, and John, His disciple (John 19:25–27)
While on the cross, Jesus delegated the care of His mother, Mary, to one of His disciples called John. This is because after His death and resurrection, Jesus knew that He would no longer be around to take care of His beloved mother. He thus entrusted this work to John. The scripture says:
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ AND FROM THAT HOUR THAT DISCIPLE TOOK HER TO HIS HOME.”
Conclusion
The scriptures quoted in this article have demonstrated that children are under an obligation to help their parents when they are in need. This help may be financial or otherwise. Helping our parents is, in fact, a way of honoring them, an act that greatly pleases our maker. In fact, there are benefits that come with honoring parents that you and I don’t want to miss. This is according to Ephesians 6:1-3, which says:
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” 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.”
God bless you as you obey and do His word. Thank you.
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In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
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Benediction
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
The Lord, make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”
(Numbers 6:24-26) Source: https://www.biblegateway.com/
My name is Nicodemus. I'm a Kenyan by birth. I got saved over 30 years ago while in high school.
I love studying scriptures in order to enhance my comprehension of God and His plan for mankind.
I have an MBA degree in strategic management and a BSc degree in botany and zoology.
I’m married to a loving lady called Leah. God has gifted us three sons: Wayne, Salem, and Michael.
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