Godliness in the Home

Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Luke 2:51, 52; Ephesians 5:22, 25; 6:1-4

GOLDEN TEXT: “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”—Ephesians 4:32

MOSES’ instructions to the nation of Israel just before they entered the Promised Land set up a standard of righteousness and godliness which, when practiced, is the crowning glory and joy of any home. Supreme love for God comes first in a properly ordered life and home; and this must be followed by a genuine interest in others. These two great principles must needs be the guides in our approach to all the opportunities and problems of life in order to avoid chaos and ultimate defeat.

Moses instructed that these principles be taught to the children, and that they should be discussed in the home and on the streets—morning and night. He said further: “And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”—Deut. 6:7-9

To the irreligious, the following of these instructions would be irksome indeed; but to those who have learned to know God and to appreciate the glorious attributes of His character, nothing gives more joy than to think and talk about Him and to try to be like Him. It is a joy for godly parents to teach their children about God and His wonderful plan for the redemption and salvation of the race.

Law and order are characteristic of God’s arrangements throughout the entire universe. We see this in all the creative works. It operates in a properly ordered family, and also in the church, the family of God. God is the Head of Christ, and Christ is the Head of the church (I Cor. 11:3; Eph. 5:23) after the same pattern, Paul explains, that God has ordained for the home, in which the husband is head of the wife.

Divine order in the home is also reflected in the Law that children should be obedient to parents. Jesus, while a child, was obedient to this command. Luke tells us that He was “subject unto” His parents. It was during this childhood period that Jesus “increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:51,52) Doubtless Mary, His mother, who “kept all these sayings in her heart,” was faithful in carrying out the instructions of Moses to teach the Law to the children. True, the perfect child Jesus probably soon “increased in wisdom” far beyond that of His mother. Nevertheless, He was subject to His parents, and God blessed the family accordingly.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord,” Paul writes. But Christian husbands have a responsibility in this matter also. Concerning this the apostle instructs, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.” (Eph. 5:22,25) Wives would need have no fear in submitting themselves to the headship of husbands who loved them as Christ loves His church. As Paul reminds us, Christ’s love for His church was so full and deep that He gave His life for it. Love of this sort seeks the very highest interests of those upon whom it is bestowed.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right,” Paul continues. Yes, this is “right,” because it is a part of God’s orderly arrangements for the home. To substantiate this thought the apostle quotes the commandment, “Honor thy father and thy mother.” The increasing chaos in the world society today is due to some extent to the fact that the modern trend of thought and practice is veering away from this divinely instituted law that children should be subject to their parents.

The modern and ungodly theory being openly advocated today, even by some professedly religious, is that children should be left largely undisciplined in order that they might be free to follow their own inclinations and thus to develop along lines which, according to this theory, is best suited to their dispositions and talents. This is not God’s arrangement for children, and it leads to chaos in the home, and is producing a generation of libertines. Parents should be wise enough to note any particular talents a child possesses, and encourage their development, but it is a tragedy for any child not to learn obedience to properly constituted authority.

The idea of liberty is much overworked these days. The desire for “self expression” is becoming so dominant in the world that anything which resembles discipline, or law and order, is branded tyranny and dictatorship. The Lord’s own people will need to be on guard against this modern spirit of the world. We should remember that God’s laws do not change, that His ways are always best. Christian parents today will do well to train their children, if necessary using appropriate disciplinary measures, to be obedient.

QUESTIONS:

Why does the proper recognition of God increase joy in a home?

Does full obedience to divine arrangements for the home inflict hardships upon husbands, wives, or children?

Is the modern theory of child training an improvement upon the commandment, “Honor thy father and thy mother”?

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