January 8th 2024.

HOW TO MAKE 2024 COUNT Pt.8

1 Timothy 3:4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive( ESV)

BUILD A STRONG FAMILY

Mount Zion Film Ministries produced a film that buttresses today's point. In that movie, there were two women who sensed the call of God into the ministry. However, one of them launched out fully without considering her husband and children while the second waited to settle her family before launching out. She did this after her husband released her at the right time.

The first woman was all over the place. In fact, whenever she comes around to see the other woman, she spoke highly about her ministry. This made the other woman feel bad but her husband told her there is a set time for everything. The son of the first woman became wayward and was expeled from school. The children of the other woman turned out well and her ministry flourished with a good family testimony to back it up.

In this ever busy world of ours, the devil has succeeded in shifting the focus of many away from the things that matters to mundane pursuit. The family and church is one of his prime target. In fact, If he can get his agenda fulfilled in homes, he has gotten the church.

So many believers( preachers inclusive) do not have time for their families any more, everything about them revolves around work. Some men are looking for out of town or country job opportunities without taking their families along. This is Satan's ploy to weaken the marriage institution.

Togetherness for fellowship and edification is God's intention for marriage. One of the reasons why some fell into adultery is because of long distance away from their spouses. The worst I have seen is when couples live separately across countries and continents. In my opinion, this is not God's will no matter the excuse given for this.

Ministers of the gospel are not left out in this. This has contributed greatly to the scattering of many families. As a preacher, don't honour invitation at the expense of your family.

Some preacher's wives are not happy because they lack due attention from their husbands. Some react and show it in their attitude making it look as If they are not supportive of their husband's ministry. Actually, they do but the template their husband is using is the wrong one. That is what they are reacting to

I am not a fan of living apart from ones spouse and children because of ministry. Even If the ministry is growing and spreading without a compact family, it is against the order of marriage. It is better not to marry and focus on ministry than to marry and neglect the family because of the ministry.

Most times, it tells on the psyche of the children in later years. A child who did not experience a compact family unit may not know how to build one in later years because no one modeled it to him.

Have you seen children who decided they won't go into ministry even If the Lord calls them? Some made that decision because their dad was an absentee dad in their growing years. Some do not know what fatherly or motherly love is despite having all their needs met. They become dysfunctional in their orientation about marriage.

This is a new year, consider building a strong family. The benefit of that decision is not for today only but for tomorrow and the rest of your life.