Aged Parent Series

HoHum:

My dad would often joke that he needed to treat his children well because his 4 children would choose his nursing home. He wanted to make sure he got the best nursing home so he had to treat us well. One day my dad was talking about this on the phone with me and I came up with an idea. I said, “Dad, tell you what, if it comes to it, we’ll just move you in with us.” Dad said, “Move in with you? You mean that you would do that for me?” I said, “Yes, Dad, move in with us.” Dad answered, “I don’t think so. Your wife would have to take care of me because of all of your church responsibilities. Move in with you with all your children, you’ve got to be kidding.” Dad doesn’t joke about me choosing his nursing home anymore.

WBTU:

The Care Of The Elderly by David Padfield

The Ten Commandments were given by God at Mt. Sinai to govern His people (Exodus 20:1-17). These commandments are divided into two sections. The first four commandments deal with one's relationship to God, while the last six deal with one's relationship to other people.

In Exodus 20:12 we read, ““Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” These verses are clearly talked about in Ephesians 6:1-3: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”--which is the first commandment with a promise-- “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”” Ephesians 6:1-3, NIV.

Most people think of "honoring father and mother" only for a young child or teenager being obedient to their parents. This is only part of the issue. In the New Testament, our Lord applied Exodus 20:12 to those who sought to escape the burden of caring for their aging parents (Mark 7:10-13). Apparently, children (some of whom were no doubt parents themselves) exempted themselves from their obligation to "honor" their parents by declaring their money was "dedicated to the temple." They did not actually give the money to the temple, but they intended to do so. They then claimed they could not financially take care for their own parents. I have seen individuals pull the same scam in our day. Since the command to honor one's parents is repeated in the New Testament (Ephesians 6:1,2), wouldn't those who seek to be relieved of this duty be just as guilty of sin as those to whom Jesus spoke?

“Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.” 1 Timothy 5:3, 4, NIV. Edgar Goodspeed translated this verse as, "to return the care of those who brought them up."

Some Christians expect institutions to do what families in the church ought to do. I know of Christians who purchase nice houses and automobiles, and then expect someone else to care for their parents. Such individuals should not be coddled, but withdrawn from if they refuse to honor their moral and spiritual obligations to their parents.

You can just hear some of these ingrates crying, "But it would be too crowded for them to stay at our house!" That might be true. Your parents' house was probably crowded when you were young too. Others claim it would be too expensive to care for their parents. Your parents no doubt made sacrifices for you when you were in need many years ago. Others bemoan the fact that they would not have any privacy if their parents came to stay. Well, you can ask your own parents about that one.

"Repaying your parents" might mean you living in a crowded house, driving an older model car and wearing faded clothes. Christians in the first century "sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need" (Acts 2:45). If they could do this for those whom they barely knew, shouldn't children be willing to do the same for their own parents? Notice this: “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8, NIV.

Taking care of an aged parent is simply repaying the love they gave us in our time of need with love in their time of need. From David Padfield at: http://www.padfield.com/1993/elderly.html David Padfield has some useful things on his web site but have some issues with this article.

Sounds biblical and logical doesn’t it? Some of it is but we are forgetting some things here.