Genesis 1:28
28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
We are coming up to the time of the year that we as families will be together for Thanksgiving and Christmas. No matter what the outcome in most everyone's case it will be being with family. We must know that family is important.
God's Instruction On Living
- Build Your Family
In this set up scriptures we find one of the first family commands from God and that was to build our family.
Why? Because family is what we need to bring together a feeling of warmth and completeness. My family and extended family and church family makes me feel complete and not so lonely.
- Children
Did you know that children are a reward?
Now I know that some of you are thinking to yourself, they are? I don't know if you would call my child a reward.
Psalm 127:3-5
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
Heritage - property that is or may be inherited.
So now let's look at the fact the God created every child and your child was an inheritance from God or as you may call that child a reward. So now you can tell your child that they are a reward from God.
We also have an obligation to that inheritance and that is to teach them right. Another words teach them what the Bible tell us.
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
We must teach our children what the Bible says. I tells us how to live our daily lives and what to do that is right from wrong. If you don't know then you need to dig into the word.
Malachi 4:6
And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
If you are a loving father then you will love your children even when you have to correct them. Love is very important to show your child. We disciplined our children when they were growing up. When they were doing something wrong then we corrected them and taught them that when they done things the correct way the they would not get in trouble, but if they did do something wrong then they would have to suffer the consequences.
Mark 10:13-16
13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Here we see where the disciples were annoyed with the kids because they were coming around Jesus playing and probably asking him questions. So, when the disciples got tired of the kids they started to tell them to go play somewhere else and then Jesus stepped in to defend the children.
The children are very important to God and should be to us. Some of them will be chosen by God to lead his people and bring more to Christ.
- Family
Psalm 68:6
God sets the solitary in families;
He brings out those who are bound into prosperity;
But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
1 Timothy 5:8
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Family is an important part of the word of God. He said in Psalm that He sets the solitary (or lonely) in families. Have you ever felt lonely or felt like you were put in solitary confinement. Well, God did not put you there! He placed you in a family that is for you to go too. He even said that if we deny one of our family member that it is worse than an unbeliever.
Take your family out to the Zoo, Six Flags, Biblical Art Center, Meusems or just to go eat at McDonalds occasionally. Show your family that you are just that a FAMILY.
Your family is someone that should be there at all times and you should be there for your family.
Myself and my sisters grew up in a home where we went to church almost every night. Even though when we were older we rebelled some we knew that the House of God is where we belonged and we eventually came back.
When it was time to eat supper we all sat down at the table together and ate together as a family. My dad would always start by praying over the food and no one got up from the table until we were nearly done eating.
We even had one of those things that we have lost and forgotten about today and that is a good old fashion family conversation.
My dad and I with a bunch of men from the church would go out every year on Thanksgiving day (sometime right when lunch was nearly ready) and unload an 18 wheeler load of Christmas Trees. But, we were together as a family.
Today is a day for that family bond to become closer. Husbands, treat your wife with respect. Show them that you love them and that you care about them. Show them with listening to what they have to say and allowing them to know you are not only thinking of yourself but them as well.
Wives, show your man that they are important and that they are the head of your family. Allow them to pray over your meal, allow them to feel like their opinion matters. Make them feel like you love them even with their problems that are going on.
Families don't argue so much that the yelling gets out of control. Do things together as a family, eat together as a family and teach your kids to pray.