Proverbs emphasizes listening to the
instructions of our fathers and paying attention to them for understanding. Not
all fathers are believers, but that does not mean their advice is always wrong.
Fathers (both believers and non-believers) can have common sense based on their
years of experience. However, even a father who professes belief in God can be
wrong about worldly matters.
All wisdom and advice must be tested by
the Bible, no matter what your father professes to believe. They should be
looking out for your best interests, so pay attention and test their words with
the Bible’s instructions.
The commandment says "Honor your
father and mother" but it doesn't say only honor your God-fearing
father. We must honor a father no matter
what they believe.
But if your father tells you not to
believe in God and never to read the Bible, then you must disobey him. Then, you must listen to your Heavenly
Father.
We must respect and honor our earthly
fathers, but never do anything they tell us to do that would be considered a
sin to our Heavenly Father.