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Contrary to what many think, the home is a God ordained institution. "And Adam said, This
is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was
taken out of man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave
unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Gen. 2:23-24). The home is no accident;
no product of evolution; no derivative of human culture.
Yet Satan has degraded the family and the home. Divorce for any reason is rampant together with absentee fathers. Unfaithfulness to the marriage covenant is common. Confused and angry children rebel and often become juvenile delinquents. There is a spiritual vacuum devoid of God in our country and it is being filled by the Devil. But society in the First Century A.D., the time of the writing of the New Testament, was not much better. Divorce was often for any reason. Polygamy was accepted. Adultery in the marriage relationship was almost expected. Unwanted children were either abandoned or killed. Wives were treated like property and abused. Yet Christians of the First Century A.D. came out of this darkness of sin and ignorance into the Light of God's revealed will. "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart" (Eph. 4:17-18). Today we still have that pattern for the Christian to follow in every aspect of their life, including the home — The Bible (1 Thess. 4:1). Many a home in our age has sunk because of this reef — God is head of the home. Families argue constantly about who the boss is. They disagree about finances, raising children, recreation, and even about religion. It ends up in an abyss of selfishness and ignorance. "...and a house divided against a house falleth" (Lk. 11:17). God is the boss of the home. He made it. He created the members of it. He supplies the guidance for it. Few in our world realize the basic truth. "Choose you this day whom ye will serve.... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:15). All of nature has an order, a rank and symmetry. "...for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth" (Col. 1:16). Likewise the Christian home is arranged around the concept of subjection. "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body" (Eph. 5:21-23). Notice what the Holy Spirit and the Apostle Paul are saying. Christ is subject to God, husbands submit to Christ, wives submit to their husbands ("as unto the Lord"), and children submit to their parents ("in the Lord" Eph.6:1). In God's plan the husband is to be God's leader of the home. Of Abraham, God said, "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment..." (Gen. 18:19). God wants both parents to be faithful Christians (1 Tim. 2:4). He wants them to create a spiritual incubator to raise up a soul (Deut. 6:6-7, 2 Tim 1:5). He wants parents to "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). How do parents accomplish this?
Fathers in particular are to "provoke not your children to wrath" (Eph. 6:4). This means punishing them, if needed, but not in excess anger. Strive to create a harmonious, orderly and loving atmosphere in the home. God wants the children in a family to realize who they are — special beings created by God to know Him and to enjoy Him forever. This means becoming a faithful child of God — a Christian. Anyone, young or old, becomes a New Testament Christian by obeying God's Plan of Salvation in:
God commands children to obey their parents. "Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this right" (Eph. 6:1). Why should you obey your parents? The scriptures say "for this is right." When you obey your parents you are, in essence, obeying God. Of course this obedience must be "in the Lord" or as far as their commands agree with those of God. All of civilization hinges on this simple principle. You must also honor your parents (Eph. 6:2). Our parents stand between God and us. This relationship lasts all their lives. "Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old" (Prov. 23:22). Obeying and honoring our parents brings a great blessing (Eph. 6:3). We live in an age of rebellion. Though it is expected for children to rebel against their homes, they should rebel against this world which is doomed to Hell. Choose eternal life with God. Grow up to be a son or daughter of God. "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Lk. 2:52). God wants your home to be based on His word and His promises. "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls" (Jas. 1:21). He wants your family to be holy, dedicated to righteousness. He wants every member of that family to be in Heaven with Him some day. "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it" (Psa. 127:1). |