Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. 

                                                                                                                 Proverbs 22:6 

When we consider the idea of honoring our parents, we should also remember that there are many parents who have to watch their children go wayward. Today’s passage is a proverb demonstrating the connection between raising children and the direction in which they will go as they enter adulthood.

For parents who have invested their love and effort in raising their children in the Christian faith only to see them reject that very faith, it can be very saddening and difficult to watch. But the proverb reminds us that if we have properly instructed our children when they are young, there is good reason to hope that the child will come to the realization, at some point, that they are in need of a Savior.

A look at Jesus’ parable regarding a prodigal child will yield a tremendous amount of truth (Luke 15) but just a cursory look at this story shows us the elements that surround the departure of a wayward child and what can happen in the child’s life over time. When we find ourselves in a situation when our children have gone wayward, we should consider these truths.

First, when the child asked for his portion of the inheritance in order to move on to “a distant country”, the father did not stop him. Often, we want to make decisions for our children even as they enter adulthood but it is important for us to respect their independence and allow them to make mistakes.

One of the greatest gifts that God has given mankind is the ability to think and reason. In other words, God has gifted each man and woman with a will. In a perfect world, we would always yield our wants and desires to those of a loving God who cares for us. However, we inhabit a fallen world and each of us has a sinful nature that pulls us away from God’s will. Our heavenly Father (represented by the father in the parable) will often allow us to make decisions, even those that run contrary to His desires.

God is relational and loving and because of these two truths, He did not create us to mechanically and robotically move throughout this life. Rather, He gifted us with a mind, will, and heart. We can choose to fill our lives with destructive things or we can seek after those things that will bring us true fulfillment. We can reject the gospel or we can receive the gift of salvation through faith in Christ. For this prodigal (as with many young adults), the temptation to move away and “live life” was too powerful. The prodigal’s request was granted and the wayward child moved away from his father.

Secondly, the “distant country”, filled with wine, women, and song, was not everything that this wayward child believed that it would be. Having squandered his inheritance and having nothing tangible to show for it, he eventually “came to his senses.” Literally, the passage says that the prodigal “came to himself” and realized that he had made a tremendous mistake in leaving his father’s home and living in the manner in which he had lived. Having hit rock bottom, he began to make his way back to his father’s house. If we find ourselves waiting for our prodigal to return, just remember to pray. We should never give up in interceding for our children. Even the most wayward of children can still “come to their senses” and begin to make their way back home.

Finally, as we see this prodigal making his way back to his father’s house, we see the reaction of the father. Hugging, kissing, and celebrating the son’s return caught the prodigal by surprise and led to the entire household (well most) also joining in on the festivities. As we consider our own prodigal, let’s always keep in mind the joy that can come flooding back into a household when a wayward child returns home.

For those who are waiting for their child to show honor, just remember to keep making it a matter of prayer and to never give up. God can do amazing things in the lives of those who stray, even in the most severe cases.

As we contemplate the fifth commandment, let us always remember that it is never too late for us to honor our parents. Even when they have already passed from this life, we can still honor them by living our lives in a godly and Christ-centered way.