Mother’s Day and Roadkill

Have you ever considered the connection between Mother’s Day and roadkill?

Yes, I’m serious. 

In Proverbs we read:

The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures. (Proverbs 30:17 ESV)

When the author of this Proverb writes about ravens and vultures picking out and eating your eyes, he is not talking about them eating your eyes while you are alive.  Ravens and vultures don’t peck the eyes out of living creatures, they scavenge from dead ones.

So a modern paraphrase of this verse might go like this:

If you mock your father and think it is a waste of time to obey your mother, you’ll end up like roadkill!

So, the next time you see some dead creature being pecked on at the side of the road, remember to obey your mother!

Going Deeper

This lesson is actually part of a broader teaching in the Bible.  Ultimately, all legitimate authority comes from God.  Our desire is to know His will and obey it.  With respect to children who are not yet old enough to study the Bible on their own and to have relationships with other Christians, God’s authority comes almost exclusively through Dad and Mom. May the Lord help parents with this responsibility!

 

Young children depend on their parents to guide them.

When we are older, we do not neglect the advice and counsel of parents, but our parents become one of several sources through which we learn to follow God.

As adults, God guides us through several sources

Of the sources that God uses to show us His will, the Bible is by far the most important.  Once we can read the Bible, why do we need anything or anyone else to help us obey God?  While the Bible is perfect, our understanding of the Bible is not perfect.  So God still uses our parents, other Christians, and wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds to guide us.

This is why it is so important to be humble and willing to receive counsel and correction from others. (Proverbs 10:17, Proverbs 12:1, Proverbs 15:5, Proverbs 15:12, Proverbs 15:22)

I thank God that my own father and mother led me to Christ.  But what if you are not blessed with wise, godly parents?  After all, we don’t get to pick what family we are born into.

Thankfully, God has given us a second family:  our local church.  In the church there are wise, mature Christians who can help guide and encourage us.  Seek them out and learn from their experience and advice.

May God Bless our Mothers this Mother’s Day.

  

Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others . . .