Family...Which Role Is Yours?

*How the family began ~ Genesis 2:18-25 "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field: but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of the ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bone 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. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed." God saw it was not good for the MAN to be alone. So He created the woman, crafting her only the way God can, from man himself. There were all of these animals that God had given Adam to name and don't you think Adam must have looked at the animals and noticed that they each had mates? And don't you think he wondered why he didn't have a mate? He was most likely a lonely man. Come to think of it, he was the loneliest man on earth! And this is when the first recorded surgery took place. God put Adam in a deep sleep, opened him up for a rib, and closed him back up. VOILA! A woman! Women were created FOR man, FROM man, to be a help meet TO man.

*Three Essentials for a Christian Home ~ Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 "Hear O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be as a frontlets before thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on they gates." We should love God as a family together. Love Him with ALL of our heart, ALL of our soul, and ALL of our might. If we don't love Him with ALL that we have, our family is setting itself up for failure in our Christian walk. How do we instill that love for God in our children? Verse six says we are to DILIGENTLY teach and talk to them when we sit in the house, lie down, and rise up. Our children have enough worldly influence around them without parents placing it in front of them. Teaching them to love God is an ALL day process. It's not just taking them to church on Sunday and maybe Wednesday if it's convenient. It is an all day process.

*The Role of the Wife ~ I Peter 3:1-6 "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives. While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement." Subjection...the most hated word by women, in the English dictionary. It is our nature not to want to be told what to do. When we think of subjection that is the first thing that comes to mind. But subjection is more attitude than action. I can obey my husband, but if I do it with a contrite spirit, I am not in subjection. (by the way, if you're not my husband, I don't have to obey you, so don't even bother. Unless of course, God has given you some other authority over me. i.e...Pastor, etc.) It is important for Christian women to have a sweet spirit of subjection because men watch us. Yep, that's right. They watch us! They are creatures driven by sight. We know this and that's why it is important to dress right, giving them no cause to stumble into lust. But they watch our conduct and attitude too. If we have Christian friends with unsaved husbands, these husbands need to see that meek and quiet spirit from us. They need to see it in their own wife so that the Word of God, through our subjection can be seen and prayerfully win that lost husband to Christ. Our outward appearance of whether or not we look just right is important, but that shouldn't be the focus. Verse five says that the HOLY WOMEN adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husband. Just before that, it says they trusted God. Why is it important to trust God when being in subjection? Because there is a chain of command instituted by God. When we follow that chain of command and are obedient to what God has laid out before us, He will keep His word! We may not understand or agree with the situation, but just obey in subjection and God will bless it.

*The Role of the Husband ~ Colossians 3:19 "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." Husbands are to love their wives. I kind of feel weird talking about this one because I know men read my blog and I don't want to sound like I am usurping authority over the man, so you of the male persuasion, feel free to skip this one! But ladies, our husbands are commanded to love us. That's it! They are not here to rear our children, cook our meals, rub our feet, etc. If your husband does these things on his own, that is WONDERFUL and KUDOS for him!! He is putting his love into action by doing these things and that is just great! But if he's doing these things because you're a nag and won't stay off his back, go back to The Role of the Wife again and take note of the "meek and quiet spirit." Your husband may let you nag for a while, but that nagging is building up inside of even the most patient man like a tea kettle over a fire and eventually, he's going to blow his steam and whistle his dislike to that nagging. We were placed here for HIM, not him here for US! Oh dear, I should probably close comments on this, shouldn't I?

*The Role of the Children ~ Proverbs 1:8 "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:" Children, your role in the family is very important also. You're not just the kid. When you follow your parents rule, you WILL be blessed! Even if your have unsaved parents or parents not living for the Lord, you can be a witness through your obedience. You could be a tool in turning that parent back to God or an instrument in leading them to the Lord. Just through obeying! And if you have godly parents, think of how much of a blessing you will be to them by your obedience.

*The Role of the Parent ~ Ephesians 6:4 "And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Earlier I mentioned that our children are surrounded by worldly influence. It is so important for us, as Christian parents, to stay focused on the Spiritual things. It is our job (both mom and dad) to see to it that our children are being brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. What is "nurture and admonition"? We hear these words at every baby dedication, on Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc, but what do they mean? Nurture means to feed and protect. But it also means to bring up, train, and educate. So we are to train and educate our children in the things of the Lord. It is not solely up to our Pastor, Youth Pastors, etc. They help in that area, yes, but it is OUR job as parents to see they are being spiritually educated. Admonition means we are to counsel, advise, caution, and render reproof. No where in the Bible does it say we are to be friends with our children. We are to train them. There will come a day when they are all grown up and on their own and then they will make good friends. But now, we are their authority figures. NOW is the time to educate them in spiritual matters. Right now, they are CHILDREN! That's why God gave them PARENTS. It is our responsibility to guide them. If we don't, they will be a spiritual failure, but by God's grace.

*The Prescription for Rearing Children ~ Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." The prescription for rearing children is not difficult. I've heard people say many times that babies don't come with instructions. Well, yes, they do. It's called the Holy Bible! If you are not sure your child is on the right path, read the instructions for a re-route!