The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
October 25, 2009
In
This Issue:
Family
Happiness
by
Gary Patton
Complaining
Christians
William
Stewart
Family Happiness
For a family to enjoy happiness in its relationship, it must have a deep respect for God's plan for the home.
Happiness in the family begins with a proper relationship between husband and wife. This relationship must be based upon the principles revealed in Ephesians 5:22-23. This passage first indicates that there must be a standard of authority to be followed. Just as Christ is the head of the church, the husband is to be head of the wife, and therefore, the head of the family. This is not to be a relationship of cruel dominance by the husband or jealousy for not having more authority by the wife, but a relationship where the wife is respectful and loving in this subjection to her husband. The husband is told that he must love and cherish her, even to the point of giving his life for her. When God's plan is followed, happiness can be found in the family relationship that only God can give.
Most families are blessed with children and as they mature, once again God's plan needs to be followed by all concerned -- whether it is the parent or child. A feeling often heard expressed by young people is, "I can't seem to be able to please my parents." This is a genuine problem in the minds of many young people. Sometimes it is the fault of the parents because of a failure to fulfill their true responsibility to the children. Accomplishments go unnoticed, expressions of love and care go unspoken, always correcting, never praising. We as parents have a great two-fold responsibility in rearing our children.
First, we are to "provoke not your children to wrath" and secondly, "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." The idea conveyed in the words translated "provoke not" carries with it the idea not to break the spirit, or destroy one's will or desire. Parents must correct and punish, but it must be done in love. It must be done according to God's way.
Sometimes the problem of not being able to please one's parents is the fault of young people and not the parents. The important question a young person must find an answer to in order to please his parents is, "What makes one pleasing in the sight of his parents?" To find the answer to this question, we must go to the foundation of all truth - the Bible. In Ephesians 6:1 we read, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord." The truth expressed here is that obedience is a must. Joseph was an obedient son and was loved by his father, Jacob. David was obedient to his father, thus demonstrating a trait that brings love from parents. Jesus as a child was obedient to His parents in that He respected the authority of His earthly parents as well as that of His Heavenly Father. The proper motivation for obedience is respect for authority. If young people will demonstrate proper respect for authority by obeying their parents without arguing and complaining, and if that respect for parental authority is exercised when they are out of sight of their parents, then great joy is in the heart of a parent. The way to truly please one's parents is to show respect for authority in the home, at school, to the government, and most importantly, true respect for the authority of God and His word.
One's respect for authority is shown in whether or not obedience is present. Obey God, obey parents, "obey them that rule over you," as long as it doesn't conflict with God's law, and your family life will be happier and everybody will be a lot easier to get along with.
-- Gary Patton
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. (Philippians 2:14-15)
Few things can be more destructive to a child's future (both earthly and heavenly) as a propensity to whine and complain. Such is the manner of those who are ungrateful, greedy and self-seeking. Continued grumbling and griping is evidence that a child has successfully trained his parents to cater to his wantonness, placing in jeopardy not only the child, but also the parents (Pr. 22:6; Deut. 6:7; Eph 6:4). If the routine is not broken (Pr. 2:15; 23:13-14), the murmuring child will become a murmuring adult, and an irritation to his peers.
Recall, when God brought the children of Israel from Egypt, they were a nation of complainers (Ex. 15:24; 16:2; 17:3). The apostle Paul candidly states, ". . . with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness." (1 Cor. 10:5) He cites the things which happened to them as ". . . our example, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted." (v 6) Friend, you and are not to ". . . complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer." (v 10)
A Christian complaining is no more acceptable than any child or the nation Israel doing so. If the Lord commands that we "drive it far" from the child, and if He scattered the Israelite bodies in the wilderness on account of their murmuring, then surely we can understand that such has no place in the child of God. The context of Philippians 2 supplies Jesus as our great example, through His obedience in going to the cross. Recall, the prophet wrote of Him, ". . . as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth." (Isa. 53:7). If he endured such hostility and pain for us, without complaint, ought we not endeavor to serve Him daily without complaint?
Understand, my friend, our standing as children of God depends upon us laying aside all murmuring. If we are to shine as lights in this world, it will be through faithful obedience, and the knowledge that we are to be "blameless and harmless", not whiners and complainers.
William Stewart
-- The Beacon