27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.
This passage tells us several things. First, God rules the world through families. After God created Adam and Eve in His (God’s) image, God commands them to increase in population in order to rule the world. This means that humankind rules the world in God’s image, that is, human beings represent God in ruling the world. Thus, your family is in the world to serve God. Second, God’s command to increase in population and rule the world carries with it God’s blessing. In other words, as families serve God, God will also bless the family unit. Hence, governing our families well is so important. How should each family be governed?
First, Eph 5:21-33 instructs us that wives must submit to their husbands. You are obliged to obey your husband “in everything” (Eph 5:2; unless, of course, that instruction displeases God). This is your responsibility to God. This fact also provides motivation for submitting to your husband. The husband must love his wife. In practical terms, this means that when husbands make any decision, the criterion is: will it benefit my wife, especially in her spiritual growth? Furthermore, in terms of sequence, husbands must first love their wives, that is, husbands must first show love. And what is the extent of this love? It is “just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her (Eph 5:25): the husband must be prepared to sacrifice for the wife, even his life. Husband-Wife relationship is above all other human relationships.
Children “must obey your parents in the Lord” (Eph 6:1), that is, you obey your parents to please the Lord. When you do so, life will “go well with you and you may enjoy long life on earth” (Eph 6:3). Do you want a blessed life? Obey and honour your parents. If you are a student, your responsibility to your parents is to be faithful in your studies. If you are a lazy student, you are disobeying your parents and displeasing God. If you are a working adult, you must care for your parents.
Fathers and mothers, you must be clear about your responsibility to your children: it is to “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4). You must provide for their physical and emotional needs. But notice what Paul emphasises here: train them to walk in the ways of the Lord. If you fail to do so, you fail as a parent. But to be an effective trainer, you must lead by example. In fact, your children will become like you. Hence, be a good example. Your children will take note of your faithfulness in worship service, Bible reading, praying, in serving the Lord. You cannot expect your children to be what you are not because “the student is not above the teacher, but everyone will be like their teacher” (Luke 6:40).
Dear All, every family exists to serve God. Then, your family will receive God’s blessings. But this is only possible if the husband and wife love and submit to each other, parents train children to fear the Lord, and when children obey and honour their parents.