Your Family: Lesson Four

INTRODUCTION.

A.        Every single person should decide what type of spouse they want to marry. They should plan for their future family by picking the right spouse.

B.        To help prepare you for a future family, and to help improve the lives of the married, we are engaged in a study of the family and the various responsibilities of the members of the family.

C.        In lesson three of our study, we showed the responsibilities of the wife to be:

1.         Submit to her husband.

2.         Love her husband.

3.         Be discreet.

4.         Be pure (chaste).

5.         Be good.

6.         Concentrate on her inner person.

7.         Do not deprive her husband of his needs.

D.        In this lesson, we will examine the responsibilities of the mother.

I.         RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MOTHER.

            A.        Be a keeper at home. (Titus 2:5)

                        1.         “Keepers at home” is translated from the Greek word oikouros which means, “1) caring for the house, working at home 1a) the (watch or) keeper of the house 1b) keeping at home and taking care of household affairs 1c) a domestic” (Strong, J. The exhaustive concordance of the Bible)

                        2.         Other translations:

                                    a.         “keepers at home” (KJV)

                                    b.         “homemakers” (NKJV)

                                    c.         “workers at home” (ASV)

                                    d.         “working at home” (ESV)

                        3.         While a wife without children bears responsibility in keeping her home, a mother carries a greater work because of the children.

            B.        Guide the home. (1 Timothy 5:14)

                        1.         Guide the house” is translated from the Greek word oikodespoteo. Which means “1) to be master (or head) of a house 2) to rule a household, manage family affairs” (Strong, J. The exhaustive concordance of the Bible)

                        2.         Other translations:

                                    a.         “guide the house” (KJV)

                                    b.         “manage the house” (NKJV)

                                    c.         “rule the household” (ASV)

                                    d.         “manage their households” (ESV)

                        3.         While the husband is the head of the wife, the wife bears the responsibility of guiding, managing, or ruling the house.

            C.        Teach her children the way of the Lord.

                        1.         Consider the pattern taught in Deuteronomy 6:6-9.

                                    a.         Teach God’s commands diligently to your children.

                                    b.         Talk of God’s commands when you sit in your house.

                                    c.         Talk of God’s commands when you walk by the way.

                                    d.         Talk of God’s commands when you lie down.

                                    e.         Talk of God’s commands when you rise up.

                                    f.         Bind God’s commands as a sign on your hand. The commands shall be “as frontlets between your eyes.”

                                    g.         Write God’s commands “on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

                        2.         Consider the importance of teaching your children God’s commands. (Deuteronomy 32:46-47)

                                    a.         Set your hearts upon the commands of God.

                                    b.         Teach your children to carefully observe the commands of God.

                                    c.         Obeying God’s commands is your life. It is not a futile thing to obey God’s commands.

                        3.         Proverbs - instructions of the mother

                                    a.         “. . . And forsake not the law of thy mother:” (1:8; 6:20)

                                    b.         “The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.” (31:1)

            D.        Discipline her children.

                        1.         A child left to his own will bring shame. (Proverbs 29:15, 17)

                        2.         Discipline your child because you love him. (Proverbs 13:24)

                        3.         Discipline your child while there is hope. (Proverbs 19:18)

                        4.         The rod of correction drives away foolishness. (Proverbs 22:15)

                        5.         Do not withhold correction. (Proverbs 23:13-14)

                        6.         Correct your child so that you can have rest. (Proverbs 29:17)

                        7.         Do not be gullible, naive, or dupe-able.

                                    a.         “My child would never . . .”

                                    b.         “My child does not lie.”

                                    c.         “My child will never be sneaky.”

            E.        Love her children. (Titus 2:5)

                        1.         Some things like jealousy and selfishness can hinder a mother’s love for her children.

                        2.         A mother’s love for her children will enable her to do what is necessary to take care of her children.

CONCLUSION.

A.        Every young lady should consider what type of mother she will one day be. Will you grow up to marry, have children, and uphold your God given responsibilities?

B.        For the mothers, how are you doing in your role as a mother? If you find yourself falling short of God’s standards, then make the necessary changes today.

C.        If you are a father, then do what you can to help your wife to be the best mother she can possibly be.

D.        In the next lesson, we will consider the responsibilities of the children.

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Your Family: Lesson Four -- February 27, 2005 -- File # 2584 - Home

by John M. Duvall – Lawton, OK