In the beginning when God created Adam and Eve, He established them as a family unit (Gen. 2.24ff). This idea is seen throughout the Patriarchal system and into the Mosaic and of course today under Christianity. When considering family unity, we must be aware of what is family. Family is a group of people living in the same household related by blood or marriage. Also, family is characterized by a group of people with the same ancestry. Focused upon the family.

The family has always been a priority to God. When Cain slew Abel, his brother, he asked the Lord, “am I my brother’s keeper?” the implication here is this, he was to be a watcher of his brother (Gen. 4.9). It’s obvious that anger can breakdown the moral fiber of the family. Our focus should be like that of the family. Our focus should be like that of Christ, “if you’re angry with your brother, go to him and him alone and resolve the matter” (Matt. 5.23-24). In the beginning, God made Adam and Eve husband and wife, she was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh (Gen. 2.23). Unfortunately because man didn’t focus upon God and went to establish his own way of living, Lamech took to himself two (2) wives (Gen. 4.19). A breakdown in the family structure and major deviation from the original order in which God instituted, when our focus is upon self and our own lust, it causes us to deviate from the will of God resulting in foolishness such as this.

Genuine concentration upon the family is essential to spiritual, emotional, psychological and even physical development. This places great responsibility upon the father (man) to have a genuine relationship with God (Job 1.5). Job is a powerful example of a man who sought to please the Lord and lift
his children up to God in prayer. Like Manoah, who sought the Lord for wisdom in how to rear up this child (Sampson) in the way of Jehovah (Judges 13.8). Manoah had the attitude of the Psalmist, “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” furthermore, “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.” This must be the attitude of the church and the father’s who occupy the church; we must see our children in this light and point them in the proper direction.

As the church focuses upon the family, she must realize the impact the family makes on world. Israel Rodriguez said at one time, “the message you teach your children is the message they’ll give the world.” Of course we understand our children will make their own decisions, and hopefully they will tell the world of the good message of Jesus, but we must tell them. Let us be mindful to place more emphasis on the husband and wife relationship, this relationship must be one of longevity (Matt. 19.1-12; Rom. 7.1-2). It must be one of loyalty, fidelity and security in the Lord (Eph. 5.22-26). Parents must be reminded that children come into the world, without sense and void of understanding, which means we must teach
them the word of God and why it’s necessary to honor the Lord and seek His wisdom (Prov. 23.7).

The Family God wants has to understand it’s value to one another, the society it’s in and the world it influences. So the “B-Attitudes” come to mind on how to condition the heart to think like the Lord in all situations (Matt. 5.1-12). Learning these great attributes will aid us in our approaches to our neighbors and friends to the glory of God (Eph. 5.15). Furthermore, we consider the family and how the “Fruit of the Spirit” can be employed as well. Our families should exemplify love, joy,, peace and so forth, thus drawing all men to God through the medium of doing works of righteousness (Gal. 5.22-23; John 12.32). Finally, the Christian graces come to mind as it relates to our families. What do we mean? Adding to our faith is vital to our growth and our neighbors. The moral excellence of the Lord should overwhelm those in whom we come in contact with (2 Pet. 1.5ff).

In conclusion, we must really focus upon the family and the beauty of being an extension of God’s moral culture in the chaotic world we live in. When the family is working and demonstrating the attitudes of Christ, the fruit of the Spirit and the Christian graces, what better invitation can one have to come to Christ than that? Unlike the world, when things aren’t what they seem, the people of God can be natural, organic and genuine in their love and sincerity (Phil. 1.9-10). The family God wants should give off an aroma of life, consisting of compassion, care, concern and comfort (2 Cor. 2.14-17). So lets encourage failing marriages, lets help wayward children and lets rescue out of the way families in and out of the church. God will be glorified when we remember to do our part in the system of Christianity. Let
God be true.