We also read in the New Testament about a family to whom John the epistle wrote thus, “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the father”. (2-John 1:4) Actually the Christian Church cannot flourish without the Christian home. The Christian home is   the backbone of  the Christian Church, the   salt   of   civilization. A Christian home is an institution where parents are bound together  by  Christian  love; where  children  are  welcomed  and  scripturally  instructed, and  the  Lord  Jesus  is  not  only the  supposed  Head  of   the  home, but  the  actual Head;  where   parents  and  children  gather  daily  for  family   worship. A Christian home is a place where members of the family enjoy rest, privacy, a sense of security; and learn to work, play, pray, and plan together.

A Christian home is one in which the members learn to regard one another as having equal rights; where loyalty, honestly and co-operation are practiced and learned by each member of the family team.

A Christian home is one that radiates Christ; welcomes strangers; and dispenses hospitality without measure.

A Christian home consists of God-fearing father, God-fearing mother, and God-fearing children. Noah's and Abraham's families are one of the best pictures in the Holy Bible of Christian home.

God has placed the husband as head of the home, Genesis 18:19. Abraham commanded his household faithfully. The household includes the wife, children and servants. Husband is the head of the house hold. As it is written in the Holy Bible, “wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: and he is the Saviour of the body”. (Ephesians 5:22-23) This is God's order, and the home that reverses it breaks God's plan and destroys the peace of that home. But it does not mean that the wife is a slave beneath the husband's feet. She is his helpmeet taken from his side, to remain at his side, an equal partner. It is the husband's duty to love his wife, as it stated in the Word of God, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it”. (Ephesians 5:25) This is not mere respect. This is the tremendous love of (1-Corinthians 13), love in health, in sickness,  in poverty and in prosperity. The husband is required to be faithful to his wife. We live in an age of lax moral standards and easy divorce and infidelity. The standards of God have not changed. God still demands honesty, frankness and faithfulness between the partners contracting marriage. It is the husband's duty to comfort his wife in times of sorrow as did Elkanah with her wife. Then said Elkanah her husband to her, “Hannah, why weepest thou?  And why eatest thou not?  And why is thy heart grieved? Am not I better to thee than ten sons”. (1-Samuel 1:8)

He also ought to consult with his wife on business matters, for they are a team. By virtue of marriage, they two have become one- a single unit like Jacob consulted with his wives. And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, and said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me. And ye know that with all my power I have served your father. And your father hath deceived, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. If he said thus, The spackled shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle bare speckled: and he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked. Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here I am. And he said, lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, spackled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. I am the God of Beth-el, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of the kinderd. And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?”. (Genesis 31:4-14)   Jacob's wives rightly reply in verse 16, “Whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do. “ That is, wears yours, we belong to you, we obey you now.

The Christian husband will always put Christ first in his life. Our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ said, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple”. (Luke 14:26) A husband must love his wife, but he must love Christ Jesus more.

The husband is priest of the family worship. He is responsible for grace at meals. Job offered sacrifices for the whole family. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their heart. Thus did Job continually”. (Job 1:5)

Almost all great men have been made great by one or two loving women—a Godly mother or a devoted wife. They are tremendous assets.

          The wife's first duty is to love and serve Jesus Christ according to the Luke 14:26. The wife's second duty is to obey her husband, according to the word of God, Ephesians 5:22. We read about a Godly woman Sarah, wife of Abraham in the word of God. “Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement”. (1-Peter 3:6)

It is a hard lesson for the modern and secular minded woman, but she can never be a happy , God-pleasing woman,  until  she  submits  to  the  plan  of  God.  The reason for this is given in the Word of God. It is written thus, “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, not to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety”. (1-Timothy 2:11-15)

           God's ideal Christian home is where both parents love Jesus. Wives are not only to respect and obey their husband, but they are to love them, too: It is written in the Holy Bible, “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed”. (Titus 2:4-5) Husbands need a great deal of affection, too.

          The woman is not to be adorned with showy golden ornaments. As it is written in the Word of God, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works”. (1-Timothy 2:9-10)

1,  Modesty and sobriety:  “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety”. So sadly lacking in this day and age.

 2.  A meek and quiet spirit: It is stated in the Holy Bible as thus, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: (1-Peter 3:3-5)

 Good wives and good mothers are wonderful gifts from the God. They become a tremendous blessing to their husbands and families. As it is written in the Word of God, “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing,   And obtaineth favour of the Lord”. “House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: And prudent wife is from the Lord”. “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies”. (Proverbs 18:22; 19:14; 31:10) Wives need appreciation and praise occasionally, as it is written thus, “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her”. (Proverbs 31:28)

wise woman: Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands”. (Proverbs 14:1)

The Lord's first commandment with promise is, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee”. (Exodus 20:12) It is repeated in the New Testament  “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother: which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth”. (Ephesians 6:1-2)

 Isacc the son of Abraham was exemplary in carrying the wood without murmuring. (Genesis 22:6) Samuel the prophet, was another most exemplary with instant obedience even in the middle of the night. (1-Samuel 3:1-10) Jesus Christ as a child was obedient to his parents. (Luke 2:51)

 A home cannot be happy without children. The parents who deliberately hinder the birth of a family are disobeying God and waiting for judgment. The Lord the Almighty God blessed Adam and Eve to be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it”. (Genesis 1:28) Though in some cases God closes the womb and even thou parents pray for children and their prayers are denied, temporarily or permanently as we read about Hannah. Parents are to realize that their children are a precious heritage from the Lord and they must love their children. Parents are to bring their children to the Lord at an early age. As it is written in the Word of God, “Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, suffer little children , and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence”. (Matthew 19:13-15)            

Parents are to train and discipline their children for the Lord as it is taught in the Word of God, “Train up a child in the way that he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it”. (Proverbs 22:6) Parents, be sure that you bring your children to Sunday school and Church. Teach the children Bible stories at home and give them a part in family prayers. Teach the children to obey God and the laws of the country you live. Eli was punished because he could not control his wicked sons.

Above all, let godly parents pray for their children. Pray that they will be saved. Pray that they will overcome sin and worldly love.