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Family

The world seems more complicated than it used to be, partly because ‘family’ used to have one clear definition. Now, family looks like different things to different people. It’s not just that families can be single-parent, nuclear, blended, fostered, or adopted, but also that the world is so small now that we have families dispersed across the world, no longer living in proximity to their extended family.

Regardless of what the family experience is, the Bible shows some principles that, when applied, help create healthier humans, which in turn help create healthier communities. For example, the verses above lay out attitudes for parents and children. Elsewhere, there are verses that show how husbands are to love their wives vice versa and warnings about what happens when wisdom isn’t applied within our family.

All these verses show that the love that God deems is best in a family is active and intentional. Parents and guardians are to be actively training children, teaching them how to make good decisions, demonstrating wisdom, modelling the fruits of the Spirit. Honor is active. Love is active. In God’s love, the return for active, intentional love, training and honor in the family, are a blessing to the individual and the family.

Question to consider: When you consider your experience of family, where are you intentionally acting in love?

Written by SUSIE HOLT