Family Traditions

Joshua 24:15

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Do you and your house serve the Lord? Is your family strong in their faith? The biblical perspective on family covers a wide range of topics. From love, raising children, family values, difficult times and relationships – the bible provides insight and guidance for all aspects of serving the Lord in your house and as a family.

THE FATHER

1 Timothy 3:4

4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.

Ephesians 6:4

4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Colossians 3:19

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Psalm 103:13

13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

Many people today may turn their nose up at these biblical verses. They may say that the bible promotes and implies the degrading of women and children. That the only message behind these verses is that the man, the father of the household, controls everything and everyone. But, do not look at this as a bad thing, this does not mean a man has power over others in his family. This message is to emphasize the importance of honoring a father’s role within the family; the role in which he must inspire to teach his children to obey him, and follow suit when teaching them right from wrong, how to be kind and courteous, and how to be respectful of others and elders. It explains that the father, the man of the house, must do all these things in a respectful manner, so he may lead his family and teach them to be respectful to themselves and all others. A good father understands that life is not perfect, it is not always sunshine and roses. He also knows that his children learn from him, that they watch him, and if he angers quickly, then his children will anger quickly as well. Ephesians states the importance of controlling your anger as a father. To not only teach children to be respectful and responsible, but to keep their anger at bay is one of the hardest things most fathers will face to instill in their children. But when this task is successfully fulfilled, the father can transfer these good qualities to his children. He leads by example, the way the Lord intended.  Each father, should teach their children to love the Lord, lead a life of good morals, values, and good character in the name of God.

THE MOTHER

There are several other verses throughout the bible that touch on the role of the father in a family. But these are just a few that emphasize the importance of the father’s role in his family. And though it seems the bible tends to address the father’s role more often, the role of the mother is not to be overlooked, nor to be viewed with any less importance. There are many biblical verses that describe and offer insight to a mother’s role and praise for her place in a home and family. A mother as most know, usually holds the pieces together. She is the calm in the storm for her family. She is strong, determined, and loyal. She strives to keep her family safe and comforted. The biblical understanding of a mother’s characteristics can sometimes be hard to pinpoint. But let us try, shall we?  

Proverbs 31:25-29

25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

John 16:21: 

21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world

Luke 2:51:

And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

Isaiah 66:13 

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

It is plain to see that the Lord values the role of a woman, not only as a mother, but as just simply a woman. The love that the Lord places upon the mothers of this earth is undeniable; that a woman is viewed as a source of comfort, strength, and kindness through and through, is just a few of the takeaways in the Bible. Not just anyone’s comfort can be compared to that of God’s. As expressed in Isaiah, “as one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.” And with this simple statement the Lord’s faith, love, and need for women in His world is expressed with such gratitude. It is because of this love from God, that a woman, a mother, can love and care for her husband and children in the unparallel capacity that she does. Embracing the role of a mother, or mother-like figure is admired by the Lord. He looks to women to not only exude a nurturing disposition, but to always keep and treasure His love and wisdom in their hearts. It is with this faith in the Lord that a mother can provide for her husband and children, and keep them comforted in a way only the Lord can.  

THE CHILDREN

Now that we have taken a very quick look into the biblical views on the role of the father and the mother, let us now dive into the last part of the family. Yes, that’s right, the children. Though we are all children of the Lord, it is the Lord who sets guidance and knowledge for us all in His teachings. His directions regarding how to love and parent children are profoundly wise and incredibly simple. The next few examples of these biblical views on children in relation to family leave little to question.

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 1:8-9

8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, 9 for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck". 

Colossians 3:20

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Ephesians 6:1-2

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother—which is the first commandment with a promise—

2 Timothy 3:14-15

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

These Bible verses are just a very small example of the emphasis God puts on raising children in the light and way of the Lord. And though these examples tend to lean on advice for parents, it is necessary to remember we all started out as children. As I have stated in several of my writings, we are all God’s children, and I cannot stress that point enough. He has all kinds of wisdom on father’s, mother’s, relationships within families, and the love a family can bring to one another. But, when it comes to children, we all need to take heed of His words:

Matthew 18:2-5

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’

So, I ask you, have you lost your inner child? Have you lost your sense of innocence, simplicity, or forgotten how to count your blessings? It is never too late to love your inner child and embrace it. It is never an easy task to age and get older, but it is part of this life on Earth. But that does not mean you cannot have the same tender heart you had as a child. When you see a child jumping and splashing in rain puddles, without a care in the world, a smile on his face, and only the love of the Lord and his parents in his heart; just know THIS is what God wants for all His children, always.

Children, marriage, relationships with relatives, parenting, and everything in between is not ever simple, nor is it easy to navigate on your own. Each person in your family has a role, whether it is obvious or subtle, or almost non-existent, it is there. Without love and communication, and the guidance of the words of God, we would never make it as far as we have in this life, and our families certainly would not have made it this far. The Lord loves His family, He loves each of His children, because He knows that each of us has a role in this life, and He will be there to cheer us on in our house that serves the Lord.  

Thanks be to God.