RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS PARENTS
April 18, 2024“CHILDREN” – ALWAYS REMEMBER
April 20, 2024When someone lets us down, we normally get disappointed. When we are expecting something from someone, and then we are let down, the disappointment is painful and agonising. Sadly, this is precisely the position of many parents today.
Parents are not expecting much, nor something unusual from the children, when they expect support – be it the physical presence, emotional strength, and economic help, from their children. Such are the relationship strings in a family. Nothing unusual, and entirely fair.
When we look around at the world today, and see the people and the society, we see them, mostly ambitious, self-centred, impatient and stressed out. This is the ground reality, in a general sense, among all stratas of the society. Now, let us see what the Bible says about human beings, human relationships, and families in the last days – “1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” – 2 Timothy 3:1-5
John Calvin, commenting on 2 Timothy 3:1 following observes, “The characteristics Paul will describe speak not of bad times, but of bad people. “We should note what the hardness or danger of this time is in Paul’s view to be, not war, not famine or diseases, nor any of the other calamities or ills that befall the body, but the wicked and depraved ways of men.” What an accurate picture, painted so vividly, in the Word of God. The disease is the depravity of the human heart.
So my dear parents, do not expect much from this generation of sons and daughters. Good children are still there, and will be always. It is appreciable. However, the numbers are fast dwindling, and it would be hard to find them in the days to come. Therefore, it is good for all the parents to lower their expectations; and make mental, physical, economical and emotional preparations, to a life where the children may be present, but of not much help. May the LORD be the source of help, comfort and strength to all such parents.
