Handle With Care

Sometimes we see on packages the instructions “Handle with Care” or “Fragile” written on them.  It’s important to pay attention to instructions when we come across them.  If we didn’t follow those particular instructions, we could break something very valuable.  That happened to us one time.  Some relatives from back East shipped us a beautiful, antique engraved crystal vase.  It was a family heirloom that was a wedding gift to a relative 150 years ago.  It came with an antique photo of the woman with the vase.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t handled with care, which ended in its destruction.

God had some important instructions for us to follow too.  In the Old Testament He told the Israelites in Exodus 20:12 –

“Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”

Then Jesus thought it was important enough to repeat in Luke 18:20 –

“You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.”

In other words, nothing has changed, God expects us to still honor our parents.  To honor means 1) To hold in respect; esteem, or 2) To show respect for, or 3) To confer distinction on.  God knows that we sometimes won’t agree with our parents.  God knows that we won’t necessarily have the same lifestyles or likes as our parents.  Yet, God still expects and commands us to honor them.  After all God placed them in our lives.  He made them our authority.  Even when we don’t agree with our parents, this gives us a chance to apply biblical principles as we develop our relationship with our parents.  It is also a means to show God’s love to them, even when we disagree. 

If we don’t follow God’s instructions about our parents then we may end up with a relationship that is like that “Handle with Care” packaged vase that arrived in a million pieces.  Take time to show your appreciation to your mom, no matter what your history with her is.  Take time to honor and love her as God expects you to do.  Bless your mom with your love.

Behaving Wisely Has Its Rewards

David, the man after God’s own heart, was such a great example for us. His humanness and love for the Lord always showed. His life gives us hope that we can make it through anything. It gives us hope that God will continue loving us no matter what sin we commit. He is our example of how to praise the Lord no matter what is going on in our lives. Last, but not least, he was our example on how important it is to behave wisely. In I Samuel 18 we read:

“5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.”

As a result of David behaving wisely, he is rewarded. King Saul sets him a position of leadership and all the people accepted him. David could be trusted. His behavior, words and decisions were deemed wise and gave him respect. People prefer to follow leaders who behave wisely. No one respects a fool or follows a fool. If they do, it is for a very short time. We see this all the time when watching famous people who mouth off or do stupid things. In the end that person will only be rewarded with being remembered for that foolish word or action they did. Whereas, someone like David is remembered for being a man after God’s own heart who behaved wisely. Which way would you rather be remembered? Show great wisdom and be rewarded for behaving wisely.