Walking with the Wise #268: Focusing on the Family

“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their fathers.”
—Proverbs 17:6

After our relationship with God, the most important relationship we have is with our family. The first four of the Ten Commandments deal with our relationship with God, but in the fifth commandment we are told how we are to respond to the very first relationship we ever have on this earth—our parents. The sixth commandment teaches us the dignity and value of human life. And from there we move to the next most important relationship we will ever have—our spouse.

Through Malachi, God revealed His original intention for marriage:

“Did He not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth”—Malachi 2:15.

One of God’s greatest gifts to us is family. And another one of God’s great gifts is long life so that we may see our children’s children, but in our world today, there is an assault on the family. Many young men and women are putting off marrying until they are much older, which decreases their chance of children, and also makes it difficult to see their grandchildren later. No wonder God said, “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth”—Psalm 127:4.

In addition to that, with the proliferation of divorce and "alternative lifestyles," the foundation of marriage is being assailed. It is up to us to be lights in the midst of the storm—standing for marriage the way God intended, raising up children (as God allows), so that His name and saving grace might be told to future generations. Let us not cater to the world’s idea of “family;" rather let us speak the truth in love, making sure that we are loving the God who made us for Himself. Let us honor our parents, treasure life, and then cultivate the most intimate of relationships as God intended so that His name might receive praise both now and forevermore! Amen.