Dr. Tan Tek Seng

DAILY REFLECTION
27 May 2026

“Honour your father and mother”-which is the first commandment with a promise-“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭

When I read the news that our Deputy Prime Minister is considering a law to penalize adult children who neglect their elderly parents, it raises a sobering question about the moral fabric of our society. Laws may enforce duty, but only love can fulfill God’s design. We need love, not law.

I remember vividly when my father turned ninety and suddenly fell into a coma. I rushed home, and when I saw the man who was once strong and full of vitality now frail and helpless, my heart broke. As I gently shaved his beard, trimmed his nails, and wiped his body, tears streamed down my face while I prayed: “Lord, please let my father come to know You.” Suddenly, he opened his eyes and whispered, “How long have I been asleep?” In that sacred moment, I held him close and said, “Dad, I love you. Jesus loves you too. Are you willing to receive Him?” By God’s grace, my father nodded, and the Lord sustained him until the age of ninety-two.

This experience taught me that honoring parents is not about compulsion—it is about compassion. God’s Word establishes honoring father and mother as part of His divine order for family and society. It is the first commandment with a promise: well-being and longevity. The health of individuals, families, and even nations is tied to how faithfully we uphold this principle.

Honoring parents is more than outward compliance; it is a posture of the heart. It means valuing their sacrifices, listening to their counsel, and caring for them in their later years. In doing so, we reflect the heart of God, who delights in obedience rooted in love. When children honor parents, families flourish. When families flourish, society is strengthened. This commandment safeguards generational blessing and stability.

In a world that prizes independence over interdependence, Ephesians 6:2–3 calls us back to God’s design: a family structure where honor flows upward and blessing flows downward. To dishonor parents is to disrupt this divine order, but to honor them is to align with God’s promise of life, peace, and prosperity.

“We need love, not law—for honoring parents is not a burden imposed, but a blessing embraced, aligning us with God’s promise of life, peace, and prosperity.”‬‬