It’s important to consider how to take care of your elderly parents with respect to their health care, financial assistance, and living arrangements so that they get to live their best lives.
Let us look at what the Bible says in respect to caring for our aging family members:
1. Take responsibility of your elderly family members
Mark 7:9-13 9: And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! 10: For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ 11: But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— 12: then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13: Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
Jesus confronts the Pharisees who used the excuse of traditions so that they wouldn’t spend their money taking care of their parents.
By the act, the person would set a “trust” offering to the church to avoid the botheration of caring for their parents and also earn interest on their money.
Jesus condemns this act as it was against the law which said to “Honor your father and mother.”
Jesus said that people who did this not only disrespected their elders but also denied God’s Word.
2. Care for your family members
1 Timothy 5:8 says, But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
People are not concerned about helping their family members, Apostle Paul said in this letter to help the needy and not be lazy and careless in attitude. He said that adult children must take care of their family members and said that even the unbelievers understood the importance of taking care of their own family members.
3. Honor your father and mother
Exodus 20:12: Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
It’s the only commandment that has a promise attached to it, “that your days may be long.” As parents get older and are no longer able to provide or care for themselves, the children have to take up their responsibility and look after them.
When we look at these verses we are called to be caring and humble in our responsibilities towards our parents and elderly family members. Our parents have sacrificed a lot in raising us, and we have to return that care and love as our parents are facing challenges while aging.