Marriage & Parenting Made EasySmakprov

## The Heart of Parenting: Chamber 2: Honor: Today, we’ll discuss the second chamber of parenting’s heart: honor. Everyone wants honor, but very few get it. That sure is the way it is with parenting. Without the heartbeat of honor, nothing else seems to matter. But the more we want it, the less we seem to get it. What’s wrong with this picture? Read Malachi 1:6. A son honors his father. A slave honors his master. What do you think this verse means? In the year 550 BC, the nation of Israel was in a downward spiral. The economy was down. Morale was down. The cities had become bastions of debauchery. (That’s a nasty-sounding word, isn’t it—“debauchery”?). Things were bad and getting worse fast. Sound familiar? It was the twenty-first century, twenty-six centuries ago. God spoke words of light into this darkness through the prophet Malachi and illuminated the core of their problem. The problem for the Israelites was the one many of us face today: God's presence had become commonplace. What are you honoring in your household? Are you honoring God? Do you honor God with prayer? How about with your finances? We are called to honor God in every area of our lives: relationships, businesses, platforms, finances, etc. Take a look at what Proverbs 3:8-10 states about this matter. Do you think the Lord is honored by how you manage your wealth? God’s Word talks abundantly about honor! We can learn so much about it and all that it encompasses through the countless parables and discussions in the Bible. Let’s read Luke 14:1 and 7-11 and see what it says about honor. What do you glean from these verses? Honor isn’t taken. You can’t go out and grab it. It has to be earned. Do you feel you have earned your child’s honor as a parent? If the answer is no, it’s not too late to change course—start today. Watch what you honor in your household. Make sure God is—and always is—honored with your entire being!