1st Timothy 3:12. “Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.”
AUTHORITY AT HOME. Authority does not mean domination – but rather reasonable responsibility. Responsibility means obligation – and for the sake of my family, personal accountability. Accountability indicates one is chargeable for those left under his care. Chargeability means imputation – another’s obligation we must bear.
So consequently, in the home of one God calls to lead others – There needs to be an awareness of the needs of my children and their mother. A guiding hand that is firm yet can be open with compassion – Testifies to the fact the one who has authority knows when to use the right action.
To rule may mean to comfort and at another time to halt Some undisciplined activity that may be one of my children’s fault. It may mean to insist on some activity that they do not desire – When those under my authority may loudly complain they are tired.
There may be times when a father demands his children to obey – And he has to chastise them for some careless and bad words they say. He wants them to learn God’s truth, so they must learn to pray and read The Bible so that they have a foundation on which to build when its truth they heed.
Things are taught by parents at home that will never be learned any other place. The years that follow their youth will enable them to continually trace The hand of God in guidance through the words and model of a caring father – They in turn will have parameters to live by and teach to their children by their model.
The leadership of whatever nature, is a role within the church of God That is learned and practiced daily in the homes of those who love the Lord. They have experiences that help them to speak to others with authority – For their own children have learned what it is to live in a God-fearing family.
“I thank Thee, Father, for what I can see in the families of our daughters. There are differences of course, in the way they live and the way they were taught. But the fundamentals of honesty, integrity, prayer, Bible reading, care for others, hospitality and many other things; they carry on and are teaching their children. I thank Thee for this – and for them, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”