Another important relationship Christians must focus on strengthening is the relationship with their families. Remember that “when man descends from heaven (God), he descends into human society (family).
Adam and Eve established a family after they reproduced their kinds (Genesis 4:1-2a). Every human being belongs to a family which serves as a support system in times of difficulties, challenges and inevitable events of life including birth, marriages, death and funerals.
First of all, fathers, mothers and children must relate very well, paying attention to live by God’s commandments to them. A person without a family is indeed vulnerable and miserable.
We should also not forget that every local church is a family with the lead pastor as the father in Christ. This is why churches mourn with members who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice. In fact, there are churches that support needy members financially.
Let us therefore, be careful, to maintain the bond of peace in our families. Parents must take good care of their children and nurture them with godly training to become responsible adults and citizens.
Parents who will not think about their children’s future by catering for their education, vocational training, apprenticeship and business pursuit will have themselves to blame at their old age.
And children who refuse to honour their parents by taking good care of them suffer setbacks, stagnation, poverty and premature death in life.
Paul, the apostle, recognised this when he wrote, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honour your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise), ‘that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land” (Ephesians 6:1-3).
By James Quansah