Title Ephesians 06:1 3 How to live
Contents
How to live (11) "Filial filial piety"
Ephesians 6:1-3, 1 Timothy 5:4
Today is Father's Day. After liberation, the Korean church observed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day, and since the 1960s, the second Sunday in May is observed as Mother's Day. On Mother's Day, we give thanks to God by engraving the love and grace of our parents in our hearts, giving thanks, and swearing filial piety to our parents. Children whose parents have passed away pay thanks to God by cherishing the love and grace of their parents in their hearts and vowing to live a better and more sincere life according to their parents' teachings.
Behind the desk in my room hangs a picture of my mother and father. This is a pretty picture I took with my mom and dad when I was about 3 years old. Next to the picture is a letter from my mother to me. This letter was sent to me by my mother, who was in North Korea while I was studying in the United States. Yesterday too, I looked at her pictures and read her letters. Every time I read a letter from my mother, my heart swells with a gentle emotion. I can feel the warmth of a mother's mournful and hot love in my body. "To my son Myung-hyeok. On September 5th, at the same time as your letter, the face of my son Myung-hyeok, who grew up alone and became an adult, and moreover, my son who has grown to become a good person ... I can't express this joy in words. Myung-hyuk-ah! I'll live a long life as you literally say, and wait for the day I can meet my beloved son. Written September 29"
Yesterday, while reading my mother's letter, I called Deacon Kim Eun-young. Deaconess Eun-Young Kim took care of her mother, who had her leg amputated, with great care for ten years. Now, he is taking care of his father, who is over 90 years old, with great care. The father is very pleased with his daughter's return. "What do you feel as you look back on your mother and father?" When asked, Deacon Kim Eun-young simply replied, "I am a sinner." It was just that I was forced to look back and did nothing to my parents. Deacon Kim Eun-young is a blessed daughter who practices filial piety to her parents. Now, I go to church every morning with Deacon Heung-sik Kim to pray and receive grace.
"How will you live?" Today is the 11th sermon. We must live filially with our parents. We must live with respect for our parents. We must obey our parents. We must look after our parents. This morning I will tell you about "why and how of filial piety". Why should filial piety be done?
First, because my life and existence came from my parents. Without my parents, my life and existence today would not exist. It is a basic human duty to filial filial piety to the parents who gave me life, made me grow, and made me a person. In the human world as well as in the animal world, a mother gives her life to give birth to her children and to make them grow. It is said that spider mothers provide their own bodies as food for their children to raise them. The same goes for parents.
Third, filial piety is the way for me to thrive. “It may be well with you, and you may live long” (Ephesians 6:3). “Then your life may be long” (Exodus 20:12). “This is a beautiful crown on your head, and a golden chain around your neck” (Proverbs 1:9). Those who honor their parents do well and enjoy dignity in the world. Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States, obeyed his mother's teachings. Following my mother's teachings, I read the Bible every day and knelt in prayer before going to bed. So Jackson became a great president. Wanamaker, the king of department stores, also followed the lessons of his parents. Wanamaker said: “It was my mother who taught me love first, it was my mother who taught me to pray first, it was my mother who lit a bright lamp in my soul, and it was my mother who taught me happiness.” Those who honor their parents and follow their teachings will prosper and acquire a beautiful name and honor. Isaac was filial and blessed, Joseph was filial and he was blessed, and Ruth was filial and he was blessed.
How should I be filial? First, you must obey your parents. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:1). It is filial piety to listen to your parents. God also said that he prefers hearing the word of God rather than offering sacrifices. Jesus also liked that Mary Bethany listened to the word of the Lord. Filial piety is listening to your parents. Of course, this does not mean that you should always listen to your parents. Sometimes your parents may be wrong. You may pass by. It may be against the will of God. In that case, you will have to use your wisdom.
Third, we need to look after our parents and help them. “Jesus was obedient to him” (Luke 2:51). Jesus helped his father, who was a carpenter. I need to provide basic food, clothing and shelter to my parents who gave birth to me and raised me. And you have to help your parents do what they do.
Now we close the word. Jesus showed filial piety to his parents from a young age until he was crucified. How should I live? We must live filially with our parents. When you practice filial piety, your family will be at peace. The church is beautiful. The society becomes brighter and healthier. The country will be strong. When filial piety collapses, everything collapses. It is God's will to do filial piety to parents. And that's the way I'm good. I hope that you will be filial to your parents. I hope that you will honor your parents and obey them. So I wish you all good luck, long life and dignity.