Family/Marriage
Within many men is the desire to be a protector and provider. You can see this in their thoughts and decisions. They want to ensure every need is met and every heart is full. Every need. Every heart.
But what happens when the hero tries to save everyone? What becomes of the hero’s primary mission?
1–LOVE. Love is patient, kind, does not envy or boast. Love is not arrogant, rude, or self-seeking. Love is not irritable or resentful. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing but with the truth. Love bears, believes, hopes, and ensures all things. Love NEVER fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Choose to display such love toward your spouse…in the best and worst of times.
It’s hard seeing friends and family suffer. You wish you had a million dollars, a new car, an extra home, the perfect job, and a way for a fresh start. Sometimes you think what you have isn’t enough.
Give what you can…do what you can…even if it’s your time, a text, or a phone call. We all need people around us who empathize and genuinely care for us.
It takes a village to raise a person and not everyone will have money, jobs, and resources. Your presence is priceless. Your encouragement and support is welcomed. Your compassion is needed.
They will remember you were there for them in their darkest moments. Your investment, no matter what it might be, will be appreciated.
And remember: God has unlimited resources and we can all pray.
Genesis 9:20-27– And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
Ham’s inappropriate actions caused him and his descendants to be cursed and be servants to his brethren (the descendants of Shem and Japheth). Within the line of Ham is Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 10:19), which was destroyed due to its wickedness of the men (Genesis 13:13). Sodom and Gomorrah is used as a symbol of wickedness throughout the Bible (Matthew 11:20-24; 2 Peter 2:1-10; Jude 1:3-8). From Canaan (of Ham’s descendants), their land would be given to the Lord’s chosen, the people of Israel as their Promised Land (Genesis 12:5-7; Exodus 23:23-30).
Proverbs 18:22 – Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
1. You have found a good thing. When a man finds a wife, he finds a good thing. She is the woman God told you was yours…a woman made just for you. You found her, and she became your wife. She became your help meet to fulfill the plans and purposes of God.
2. God found favor with you. Think about that for a moment…God specifically prepared a woman just for you – like a tailor-made suit or a warm glove upon the hand.
Matthew 10:34-37 – Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
1. We believe becoming a Christian should be a joyous family occasion. When a member of the family places their faith in Jesus, they expect the family to be happy for them and celebrate. Many of us expect immediate changes in how our spouses and children relate to us. However, many family members don’t celebrate, they prepare for battle.
Proverbs 13:24 – He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
When it comes to discipline or punishment, many of us believe if ‘you spare the rod, you spoil the child’ (Proverbs 13:24). And many take every opportunity to use the rod without understanding the purpose of discipline. For many people disciplining their children, they react based on emotions. Yes, they want to correct negative behavior, but may do so out of anger (sometimes uncontrolled). However, there’s a few reasons why this approach can be counterproductive:
1. Discipline is a corrective tool. In disciplining our children, our purpose must be to (1) isolate the behavior; (2) address it appropriately; and (3) place our children on the path toward good and godly success. Discipline is not a means for us to take out our anger on our children. If we know our children well, using a rod may not the most effective means to correct their behavior in every situation. Sometimes a short discussion can accomplish the same result.
Listed below are some things you can do to tend the garden of your home:
Know when to speak and when to keep your mouth shut.
Speak encouraging words (Ephesians 4:29).
Be a good listener.
Support the goals and talents of those in your household.
Quick to forgive.
Look for opportunities to impart wisdom (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) and gifts from the heart.
Pray for them (intercession).
Spend quality time with each of them, separately and together.
Accept your family member for who they are, not who you want them to be.
Love unconditionally.
Be patient.
Photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of Flickr.com/ellie-yannis. Image covered under Creative Commons License.
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