Topic: Committing Our Families To God
Contributor: David Yap
Date: July 2008

The Lord God, in His wisdom, established the family unit. In His love, He brought Adam and Eve together and solemnized their marriage in the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:18-25). Mankind was given the blessing to "be fruitful and increase in number" and to "rule over" God's creation. (Gen 1:28-29).

But mankind in our folly and pride have messed up the Lord's beautiful design, given for our good. Look through the Bible and you will see how far off track we can go if we choose to go our own way. Abram messed up his family life when he agreed to his wife's suggestion for him to sleep with her maidservant Hagar as she desired to "build a family through her" (Gen 16:1-2). Jacob, who sired twelve sons and one daughter through two wives and two concubines, had to live with intense rivalry among the spouses and hatred among his children (Gen 29-30, 37, 50:19-21). And Eli the priest, who failed to guide, teach and discipline his sons, had to face the sad consequence of the termination of his family line through tragic circumstances (1 Sam 2:27-33).

But there are also wonderful models for us to emulate. Joseph, who was without family support in a foreign land, kept himself pure as he was conscious of the Lord's presence with him (Gen 39). The Lord gave him a lovely family (Gen 41:41-52). And in the New Testament, we read of this hospitable couple Priscilla and Aquila who co-labored with the Apostle Paul in tentmaking and church planting (Acts 18:1-4). There is also the example of grandmother Lois and mother Eunice, who provided the nurture in the home and powerful influence of faith for young Timothy (2 Tim 1:3-7) who grew up to be a committed Christian leader.

As we look around us, we realize that society today is not very different. Divorce rates are high. There are some who seek to redefine what a 'family' is, choosing to redesign it their way. Many parents struggle over how to discipline their children. In fact, the word 'discipline' appears to be unacceptable these days. Then there are issues of time demands, of family versus career.

In the face of these realities, it is important for us to address the issue of how our family life can be wholesome, as the Lord God has intended. I believe the obvious answer is that we need to seek the One who has designed the family in the first place. He designed the family in His wisdom and for our good. It will be foolish of us to depart from His design.

In Deuteronomy 6, the Lord lays out a beautiful picture of family life. We are exhorted: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" (v 5). A love relationship with the Lord must be the center of our family life. It is not how the members of the household relate to one another that is of primary importance, as critical as this is. Rather, the most strategic point is how each relates to the Lord God Almighty, the Creator and Designer of the family, who wants to be the Lord and Savior of each one in the family. Then, speaking directly to the parents, the Lord said: "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children" (vv 6-7). Parents who have wholehearted love commitment to the Lord and take His commands seriously will then be in a position to teach them to their children.

The Lord in His grace has given us clear instructions on what He has designed for wholesome family life. We do well to carefully pay heed to the principles that the Lord has revealed to us in His Word.