God wants Christians to use their relationships as a family to honour Him. He instituted marriage and demanded that the family should reference Him. This lesson is about what God's people stand to benefit when they do things in His way whether they are married or not. It will also help Christians to depend on God at various situations of life: singleness, marriage and parenting. Joshua 24: 15 - Choose you this day whom ye will serve; ... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. The followings are discussed: On Being Single; On Being Husband and Wife, and On Being Parents.
On Being Single: Christians should understand singleness is a gift from God and there are some benefits attached to it. Apostle Paul made it known that singleness is a gift if a person could control his or her desire for sex and choose to remain single throughout his or her life for God's purpose (1 Corinthians 7:7-9). He realised that being single makes it easier to devote one's life fully to the work of God (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). He saw the greater opportunities for the kingdom building activities than distractions from family issues which are often experienced by the married people.
On Being Husband and Wife: Marriage is God's design for his people to be deeply related as husband and wife so that they can live to accomplish His purpose (Ephesians 5:22-24). Just as Christ is the head and loves the Church the husband is the head of the wife, and must love her. The wife is expected to willingly submit to her husband while the husband protects and provides for her needs. Her submission to the husband should be like submission of the Church to the Lord.
The husband must show to his wife the kind of love that Jesus has for His Church, that is unconditional love (Ephesian 5: 25-32). This is type of love by which Jesus gave his life for redemption of people to God. When love is unconditional it results in closeness and unity which brings blessing into the family. Loving husband and respectful wife make a successful Christian family.
On Being Parents: Apostle Paul continued with teaching from the benefits of being single and expectations from the married people to parent/child relationships. He encouraged the parents to not provoke their children to anger, but to relate with them in such a way to build confidence and assurance and help them grow spiritually (Ephesians 6:1-4). Christian parents must nurture their children in sound doctrine and instill in them biblical principles for godly living (Proverbs 23:15-24): These are honesty, living to please God, self-discipline, respect for the parents and the authority. Children should also be encouraged to seek knowledge, wisdom and understanding in their relationships with God and others.
Parenting under difficult circumstances involves lots of challenges that need divine intervention. An example of this is seen in Hagar's experience when she was sent out of Abraham's house on Sarah's demand. While in the wilderness she received divine visitation (Genesis 21:14-2), and was protected and blessed in the loneliness and devastation. This reveals that God's love and mercy can reach out to people in difficult situation irrespective of whom they are. God saw the need of Hagar and Ismael and provided for them. Circumstances can't prevent people from enjoying God's goodness if they truly depend on him. Therefore single parents facing numerous challenges should not give up; they should put their trust in God. Lesson texts: Genesis 21:9-21; Proverbs 23:15-24; 1 Corinthians 7:7-9, 32-33; Ephesians 5:22 thru 6:4.
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