Topic — The Family: God’s Delightful Place (2)
Dear Reader,
It is another wonderful week to bring God’s Word your way again, today. I shall be exploring on the topic, God’s Interest & Involvement in the Family
Remember, God is interested in the family set-up. Whatever is good is God. Whatever is not good is not God. God saw that everything He created was good; including the family.
Look around the world today, the family is currently facing one of its greatest attacks, more than at any other time in history. More than ever before, the family needs the help of God from the troubles, woes and calamities that befall it daily. God’s Word says:Give us help from trouble, for vain is the help of man(Psalm 60:11).
We have sought for help from man – traditional, political and spiritual places, only to find out that the help man claims to render is grossly inadequate. Man is still looking here and there in search of lasting solutions to the problems encountered in marriage. The Psalmist shows us the secret of an enduring solution from the above scripture.
God’s help is always available to us. It can reach you, no matter in what area of family life you desire it. I believe it is coming your way right now via this teaching. The degree of problems you have experienced in your marriage notwithstanding, God’s help is actually all you need.
Although it is your responsibility to build your home, the ultimate builder is God (Hebrews 3:4). Whatever is built outside Him, therefore, has no future. In 2 Chronicles 26, we are told the story of King Uzziah, how God helped him against his enemies. And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwell in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims (2 Chronicles 26:7).You need God’s help much more than ever before in your family.
Uzziah had a stable government, because God helped him against his enemies. That is the same way I believe God is going to help you to combat your enemies (barrenness, poverty, confusion, etc.) in your marriage. As help comes to you from heaven, these enemies will all bow to you, in Jesus name!
In the story of creation in Genesis chapter 1, God saw everything He spoke into existence. But when it came to the issue of marriage, he didn’t just speak it into existence, He was practically involved in instituting it. God’s Word says: And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man (Genesis 2:18,21-22).
Since He is Almighty, God could have simply said, “Let there be marriage” or “Let there be family life”, and marriage would have been instituted. But the Bible says, “He took.” Even though it’s not explicitly stated, I strongly believe God must have come down physically into the Garden of Eden, to have been able to remove one of Adam’s ribs, while he was asleep.
Whatever was strong enough to cause God to leave His throne in heaven must be very important. “He took”, because something very important was on the way for man. Rather than taking the rib from Adam’s side, God could have simply commanded the rib to come out. But He did it to show how dear the marriage institution is to Him. Therefore, it should be precious to you and me also. Not only did God take the rib from Adam’s side, He made a woman out of it, and brought her to Adam. These are action words that connote God’s physical involvement in establishing the family. God’s whole intention for instituting marriage is to take shame away from the life of man. God’s Word says: And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed (Genesis 2:25).
God showed His interest in marriage by personally fashioning the woman and delivering her to her husband. It is, therefore, untrue to assume that the union of a man and a woman in marriage is man’s idea, or a cultural and traditional affair.
Therefore, to enjoy God’s best in your marriage, you must make Him the centre of your home. You must be ready to give Him top priority, recognizing Him as the foundation for a successful marriage. The problem with many couples is that they push God aside, and yet expect to enjoy divine benefits. They ignore the Word of God, which I call the “manufacturer’s manual”, and expect the product (marriage) to function perfectly. But it is impossible! God’s Word says: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3).
God is the foundation for success in the home. When the foundation is faulty, no matter how righteous you may be, your home cannot stand. If you are already born again, rejoice because your case is settled. If you are not yet born again and you desire to do so right now, please pray this prayer with faith in your heart: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.
Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).
With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).
“Please click HERE to read other inspiring articles by Pastor Faith Oyedepo”
Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.
