Honor Is A Commandment

I almost married the wrong man. I was certain I was in love, though my parents were equally as certain it was a passing fancy. They didn’t know him as I did, though. He wasn’t as thoughtful about them as he was to me. I knew they simply did not understand. I did, and I was ready to leave with him.

Several things happened that kept us from getting married, and I am so very grateful for that and those who prayed for me. God had something in mind. if I would wait.  I know that because months later on a Sunday after I prayed for God to choose a companion for me, the man who became my husband spent most of Sunday with me and my parents. The following week he spent several afternoons working with both my Mom and Dad while I was taking college classes and working. We will celebrate 52 years of marriage this spring.

Please note that one of the young men was not interested in my parents. The other was. One was not interested in my spiritual life (or his own). The other was, and is. I really like the cliché that makes the internet rounds:  If he’s not interested in your soul, he’s not your soul mate. 

That’s just a saying, though, and I like to back those with scriptures that address the situation.  The young man in question wanted me to break one of God’s commandments – the only one with a promise:

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (Exodus 20:12 KJV)

The first young man wanted me to turn my back on my parents, on their values, their teachings. The second honored my parents, respected them and helped them. I have a grandson in high school who honors his girlfriend’s parents, too. They do not wish their daughter to date right now, so at 17 the youngsters are content to visit at school and on the phone, waiting for her parents’ timeframe.

If you don’t think honoring parents is important, do a biblical search on ‘honour father mother’ in a King James Version and you’ll find not only that one commandment, but eight references to it. It is an important commandment, honoring our parents.

What is even more important is that God is our Father.  The first young man did not agree with that statement. Had I married him, we would have been unequally yoked.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV)

So, why did I want him? Because he was pleasing to the eye, kind and attentive to me and there was a physical attraction. He was there, available and desirable – but there was no spiritual value on which to build.

These are essential dating standards – an interest in your soul and honoring your parents. If not met, this is not the soul mate God has in store.