Thursday, March 9, 2017

Husbands Do You Love God?

I heard in a sermon tonight that female donkeys are placed in the field with the sheep because they will aggressively go after a wolf attacking the wolf by kicking them, to protect the sheep.

Seems almost ironic doesn't it, the male donkey will not protect the sheep but the female will.

I have seen this over and over again in our culture, where the men of the family will not protect those in the house from wicked, sinful or harmful things, nor will they lead in spiritual matters, but the women will, what is wrong with this picture? The children often rebel against the mother because of the example of the father.

1 Peter 3:7-8 "7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tender-hearted and humble.…"

Perhaps in our apostate culture the women have to do it because the men will not. In the animal kingdom the female does all the protecting but in the human condition, God ordained that the male be the protector.

When a man in the family is born again and walking deeply with Christ, that man will protect his family, however, for the most part, in this apostate age, the men do little to foster spiritual growth in the family as well as neglecting to be involved in the lives of their children or even their wife in many instances.

Of course there are exceptions to every rule, but in our culture right now, it is rare for the man to take the leadership concerning spiritual matters. And, some of those men who want to, think that leadership means demanding and demeaning to force their families. Both ways are wrong . Very few men are reading the Word of God to their family or engaging them in prayer time as a family. The only prayer most families experience in the home is a canned repetitive prayer, the same one said at every meal without variation. I am sure those who experience these prayers can say them in their sleep without thinking.

Leadership is loving example and teaching, not manipulation, intimidation and hatred shown when someone does not exactly follow the "rules."

1 Peter 5:2-3 "…2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. "

Men are the leaders, the women are to support them when they obey God.

Start at the Bottom and Do that Well

A creative young adult who has been raised to think for himself, will be able to figure things out, looking everywhere every day for something to do to have food in their mouths and a roof over their head. If they are willing to take a little shabby place and eat beans and rice, they can make it .

The problem is that far too many young people think they have to have it all right now, what took years for others to acquire.

There are lots of jobs out there for young people who are willing to start at the bottom, be a good employee and work their way up. One must be willing to be at the bottom, doing that with enthusiasm and doing it well, before they can be trusted with anything higher.

1 Thessalonians 4:10-12 "…10 And indeed, you are showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more 11 and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you. 12 Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.…"