RCCG Open Heaven Devotion 2012 – Pastor E. A. Adeboye (ISBN: 978-36079-4-4)
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(Previously available online @: http://www.rccgna.org/Resources/BibleStudy/Devotionals.aspx)

Bible in one year: Isaiah 58-60

Memorise: The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Proverbs 23:24

Read: Proverbs 23:22-25

Apart from giving joy to others, the righteous is also known by the amount of joy he or she is able to give his or her parents – both biological and spiritual

parents. Proverbs 23:24 says:

If you cause grief to your father, you are not righteous but wicked. Will your earthly parents be happy with you if you neglect them at old age? If you invested so much in your children but have retired and they are gainfully employed, yet they ignore you, will you be happy with them? Some fathers have placed curses on their children for neglecting them. The righteous will not neglect his parents at any time. He will make sure those of them that are not saved are led to Jesus. After all, that is the greatest gift he can give to them. Besides, he will ensure they have a roof over their heads and that their needs are met – food, clothing, medical, etc.

The righteous will invest much in the lives of his parents for several reasons. First, because all they have received in life are from God through their parents. The righteous will not forget the slightest good deed or investment that he or she received from the parents. Also, especially if he was neglected by his parents, he will invest in such unbelieving parents in a bid to overcome their evil with good (Romans 12:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:15). You say, “My father neglected me from childhood. How can I relate with such a man?” He did it in ignorance. Now that you know Christ, you will win him by your conduct. If you repay evil for evil, there is no difference between you and your unbelieving father. But if you return good to him, the coals of fire you will heap on his head will easily lead him to Christ (Proverbs 25:22). In addition, the righteous will invest in his parents so that he will not constitute a stumbling block to their salvation. It is easier for your parents to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ if they see you practicing it by caring for them than by neglecting them. The righteous will invest in his parents and give them the best so that when he is old, he will reap something better from his own children. Lastly, the righteous will care for parents as an act of obedience to God’s command. Go and care for your parents regularly from today. The Lord will bless you as you do so.

Draw up a plan through which you and your spouse will regularly give to your parents.