Malachi 1:6 KJV — A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
- What does it mean to honour your father?
- Why should you honour your father?
- How can you honour your father?
To honour your father is to esteem him highly and to treat things that represents or reflects him with great regards.
- Mention his name with awe and dignity. Speaking favourably and lovingly about him. No one will respect your Dad, if you don’t.
- Preserve his memory, if he has passed on. When men die, they are soon forgotten, the only people that can remind us of them are his children. You know the history of Ashanti, the British monarch, the Anlos; because some one kept talking about the history. You are the people responsible to keep telling the history and making it significant. Somebody must tell the story and preserve the memory and legacy of fathers. Every father is significant!
- Acknowledge his little sacrifices that made you who you are. Don’t say things he has not done, it will be obvious, you are lying; just try to find the little contribution he made; just acknowledge his sacrifice.
- Cover his nakedness and shame. Every man has imperfections; but it’s not your business to correct your father. Teach him new skills to make him better. Don’t yell at him when he is old or sick. Sometimes, the things they do can be embarrassing but you must not abuse them. That is why in the Akan culture when the elderly get up to dance at events, their children and grandchildren and loved ones join them on the dancing floor.
- Honour his presence! Value his presence! Esteem his presence highly. It’s not an ordinary thing, for your father to honour an invitation. If your father attended your matriculation or graduation, appreciate it.
You must honour your father because
- God has commanded you to. It’s not an option, it’s God’s commandment! We don’t have a choice! We must honour our fathers. Honour your father! It’s a commandment with a blessing.
- It is the secret to prosperity. When you honour your father, it shall be well with you.
- It gives you longevity on earth. When you honour your father, your days shall be long on earth.
Stay blessed!