Glorifying God in Your Home!
“We need to place God at the center of our family . . . As a family, we need to walk with God daily.”—Billy Graham
The Christian family should seek its values, guidance, and direction from the Word of God. The family unit is the basic building block of any society. Individuals from a loving family are more apt to add to society and help it flourish and prosper. The collapse of the family unit will lead to the slow decline of any society. Obviously, the family unit, whether good or bad, has an enormous impact and profound influence on you as an individual.
The institution of family was not made by man, it was created and designed by God (Genesis 2:24, 1:28). The Christian family unit as defined by the Bible is comprised of one man, one woman (married husband & wife) , and their children including adopted children. Both the father and the mother teach their children values, maintain order and hold the family together. They have equal positions of equal worth, but they have different specific roles.
In a good, well functioning, Christian family, each member understands and fulfills his or her God-given role. Christ is the Head and He is to be the top priority for each member of the family. This entails loving Christ, living for Him, and following His teachings.
Men, typically, are better equipped to protect and provide for the Christian family. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:23, the husband is head of the wife. This does NOT mean he is a dictator! He is to love his wife as he loves his own body (Ephesians 5:28). Also, the Bible says husbands and wives are to submit to one another in the fear of God.
Another role for the husband is spiritual leader of the family. He should teach and exemplify Biblical truths. The Bible says the father is to bring his children up in the training and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). All the while, he is to diligently teach his children God’s commandments (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). The Christian father is to provide for his family. If he does not, the Bible tells us he is worse than an unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8). All dads should be responsible providers for their families.
Women, typically, are more nurturing, caring, and keep the home in order. The Bible says the wife is to submit to her husband as to the Lord (Ephesians 5:22). Proverbs 31 tells us the Godly wife and mother does those things necessary to take care of her husband, children, and the home.
The Bible says children are to obey and honor their father and mother. By honoring their parents, children are promised blessings and a long life (Ephesians 6:1-3).
CONCLUSION
The Christian family will persevere and endure according to the strength and unity of the husband and wife. God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). Husbands and wives are to be committed and faithful to one another for life. This is opposite of the world’s view that divorce, living together outside the confines of marriage and other non-biblical behaviors/relationships are acceptable (see Malachi 2:16, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 & 7:2, 1 Timothy 1:8-11, Leviticus 18:22) . None of these lifestyles are acceptable to God according to Biblical truths. While God loves all people (John 3:16), He hates their sinful lifestyle (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). The Christian family that strives to glorify God by putting His Biblical truths into action is the family that will truly be Living The Victory!
