• Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer on…” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrines’ perspectives on a suggested subject. Every Friday a topic is printed inviting a response. Submissions are edited for content
• Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer on…” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrines’ perspectives on a suggested subject. Every Friday a topic is printed inviting a response. Submissions are edited for content and length. Thoughts or suggestions for future topics are always welcome. Next week the suggested topic is dreams. The topic at the end of the column is for the following week.
Pastor Wayne Patton
Anahola Baptist Church
King David’s last words to his son Solomon provide a foundation and insight for successful living. In I Kings 2:1-3, David charged his son, “Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man… Keep the charge of the Lord your God… that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn.”
This is foundational to biblical manhood. If sons obey God’s word in terms of how they live and treat others, they have shown themselves to be men. They respect their parents and treat women with honor. They are willing to share the gospel, among other things, which requires faith and strength.
David defines sons as men of integrity, internal strength in Christ, and courage, willing to do what is right and to stand for truth at all times and in all circumstances.
Dr. James Fung
Lihu‘e Christian Church
I imagine that the hardest thing for a parent is to see her child suffering and not being able to alleviate his pain. It was, therefore, the most difficult day for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to stand there at the foot of the cross in the final moments of her son’s cruel and unjust execution. But there was an energy of closeness and tenderness that flowed between mother and son.
He could handle the pain. But his tears were for his mother, because he knew how she felt, watching the life slowly drain out of him.
Sons, both now and in biblical times, have a responsibility to provide for their parents, especially in their old age. And as Jesus, was about to die, he fulfilled his filial obligation. In his final moments, he wanted to not only make sure that his mother would be provided for in a material sense, but that she would also receive the spiritual care she would need in the days ahead.
As Jesus spoke to his mother and to John, his disciple, his eyes directed them to stand close beside each other. And he said to his mother, “This is your son, from now on.” And he said to John, “This is your mother.” (John 19:26). The Bible account tells us that from that day on John took her into his house and cared for her as if she were his own mother.
Topic for two
weeks from today
• Will you speak to us on patience?
• Spiritual leaders are invited to e-mail responses of three to five paragraphs to pwoolway@kauaipubco.com.
• Deadline each week is 5 p.m. Tuesday.
