Family

DEVOTION
COLOSSIANS
FAMILY
Col 3:18-21
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. NIV
It would seem this is a section of the scripture which a lot of guys quote when they want to exercise authority over their wives, but I am not too certain about this. It has always been a thought in my mind about responsibility not authority. I see myself as having to stand accountable for my family. If, in fact, God installed me as the spiritual head of my household, and as Joshua states that we must make a choice but for him and his household he will serve the Lord, I too must choose for my household. It is not for me to follow my wife but for her to follow me. I have the responsibility to lead my family in the ways of serving God. Of Course I am not to use a leash or harness dragger her to God, I am to love her, and within the context of the love of Corinthians 13 harshness just does not fit at all. I also am to be the leader of my children, now I have to say I did not, turn over the responsibility of my children to my wife either. I had to been involved in leading them to the Lord, being an example of Christ to them. But all these verses still speak to the heart of the man of God. I am to be the leader not the follower, I have the responsibility and therefore I must have the authority. Now if I am the man of God I am suppose to be then my wife will have absolutely no problem submitting to my leadership. Even though my children are all grown married and have children of their own, I still must be the leader, showing Christ in my life. I know I such not be directing them, and have authority over them at this point, but I still must lead in the Christ like attitudes and still love my wife and not embitter my children. I cannot see at what point I should stop that. I pray that God will always give me the spiritual wisdom and strength to be the man I am in need of being.