Scripture Reading: Proverbs 19:26; 20:20; 28:24; 30:11
“He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.” (Proverbs 19:26)
It is a very great evil in the sight of the Lord when children mistreat their parents. This Proverb warns us against such cruelty to parents.
Look at the words, “wasteth away.” In Hebrew it is shadad (7703). It means, “to bully, to oppress, to plunder, to be violent, to waste.”
Many grown sons and daughters are cruel to their parents. They are rough and rude, and some even are violent. And then there are those who plunder their parent’s few dollars by crooked and deceptive ways.
The words, “chaseth away” are barach (1272) in Hebrew. The translation is, “to chase, to drive away, to put to flight.”
Not all “chase away” their mothers, but when they put them in hospices with a lot of old strangers, many of whom are senile, and leave them there, neglecting them and not visiting them, it is a kind of “chasing away.”
They soothe their conscience by saying, “They don’t remember it when I visit them, so what is the use! It’s just a waste of time!”
But I am sure that the spirit knows things which the brain cannot remember. And every time someone who loves these old people visits them, they bring a little light into their monotonous and lonely lives. Love is light.
Many old fathers and mothers die before their time because they wither away with a broken heart.
God will hold their children and their children’s children responsible for how they treat their parents and grandparents.
“Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.” (Proverbs 20:20)
Because they didn’t love their parents enough to bring the light of love into their lives, their own lights will also go out. The day will come when they will be forgotten and unloved.
“Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.” (Proverbs 28:24)
Many teenagers, (especially those who are on drugs), think they can help themselves to Mother’s purse or Dad’s billfold, and that it is not wrong. But it is! It is evil to “borrow” from your parents without their knowledge and consent, and not to pay it back. All too many sons and daughters are careless about paying back what they have borrowed, and this is theft of another kind.
“There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.” (Proverbs 30:11)
The word “curseth” is qalal (7043) in Hebrew. It means, “to be despised, insignificant, of small worth, to revile, to curse, to be lightly esteemed, to bring into contempt. ”
Never treat your parents, nor any elderly people with qalal. Always show respect and honour to them. This is a generation that has no respect for the elderly. In fact, many of them are plain rude. They refuse to give older people a seat in a crowded bus or train. They won’t help them across a busy road, nor will they carry their burden for them.
Gems of Wisdom by Gwen Shaw
Available from our webstore:
