Topic For Adults: Conform to God’s plan for your family.
Topic For Youths: Decide To Follow God’s Commands For Your Marital Relationship.
Topic For Intermediates: God’s Plan For The Family Is Ideal For You
Scripture Lessons: Gen. 2:22-24; Mk. 10:1-10; Heb. 13:4
Memory Verse: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24) NKJV
DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING
Sun. 11/9/2016
Husband Is Head Of The Family
Eph. 4:17-23
In any human organization, there needs to be someone in control. In the case of the family, God’s plan is that the husband should be the head. The issues of women fighting for their right arose because men have misunderstood and often have misused the concept of being the head of the home. The husband being the head does not confer on the husband the power to oppress or subjugate the wife; neither does it make the wife inferior to the husband. Every member of the family is important, and each should learn to submit one to another. Being the head of the family implies being given the privilege of taking the final decision in cases where a consensus cannot be reached on a matter. Wise husbands have learnt to take their wives, ideas and suggestions seriously in taking decisions.
Point of Emphasis: The husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church.
Prayer Point: Grant husbands and wives the wisdom to manage the homes in the knowledge and fear of you, Lord.
BACKGROUND
There is increased wave of some believers who compromise the Biblical standard with the world. To prevent the drift and ensure that Christians continue to comply with God-given standard, there is a need for us to be reminded of the plan of God for Christian family. This will enhance Christians to pattern their families on God’s plan.
NOTES ON THE TEXT
PART 1: HUSBAND AND WIFE BECOME ONE FLESH (GEN. 2:22-24)
The desire to acquire wives is not new, just as the temptation to disobey God’s commands is not new. The first man to have two wives is recorded in Genesis 4:19. Many men over the millennia have taken several wives. The original plan of God is that the family should be built on the foundation of one man committing himself (leaving father and mother) to one woman in marriage. God’s plan does not permit co-habitation (man and woman living together without getting married) or trial marriage (man and woman living together to see if they are compatible without affirmed commitment to each other). It also precludes having concubines.
The challenge of enjoying a happy family life is greatly compounded when polygamy or extra-marital relationship is embraced. The records of polygamous families in the Bible illustrate the strife, suspicion, bloodshed and many other woes that families such often go through.
PART 2: MARRIAGE IS FOR LIFE (MK. 10:1-10)
By the time Jesus Christ was born, some Pharisees were teaching that a man could put away (legally divorce or be separated from) his wife for any reason the man deemed fit on the basis that Moses permitted it (Deut. 24:1-4). Jesus declared that divorce was a permission given because of the hardness of the people’s heart. Divorce and separation were not part of God’s plan for the family life. In fact, God hates divorce (Mal. 2:16).
A genuinely born-again Christian does not go ahead to do what God hates, because he knows the act will separate him from God. Two people starting a family together should have strong commitment to make the relationship a success. The strongest weapon against divorce is forgiveness and genuine repentance. In any marriage, one party will offend the other. The offending party should genuinely repent and decide not to allow such offence to occur again. The offended party should also learn to forgive freely. In an atmosphere of repentance and forgiveness, the consideration for divorce will not arise. If divorce does not come in, there won’t be any thought of remarriage.
PART 3: SEXUAL PERVERSION IS FORBIDDEN (HEB. 13: 4)
Sexual relationship is an important ingredient which God put in place to solidify marriage relationship. The devil has turned man’s desire about sex to sensual self-indulgence without recourse to God’s commands and plan for man. The society in many cultures has come to accept as normal different forms of sexual perversion.
Any sexual relationship outside of that which God approves – between a man and a woman committed to each another in marriage – can be regarded as perversion. It comes in the form of extra-marital affairs, homosexuality (sexual relationship between persons of the same sex); bestiality (sex between a person and an animal); etc.
God frowns at sexual perversion seriously and judges sexual perverts sternly. Societies, in which sexual perversion is openly accepted considers itself open-minded. God hates the sin, though He loves the sinner and wants the sinner to change from his ways. The act of sexual perversion is an abomination before God.
CONCLUSION
Marriage is indeed honorable for all. The problems we face in the family relationships are due to man forsaking the plans of God for the family. When we submit ourselves to follow God’s plan, the family life becomes a source of joy and support for every member of the family.
QUESTIONS
What are some practices that are not compatible with God’s plan for marriage?
Why is the challenge of enjoying a happy family life compounded when extra marital affairs is involved?
Did Jesus give permission to divorce?
Why should Christian not adopt society cultures about sex as normal?
What are the implications of sexual perversion and why did God frown at it seriously?
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