Responsibilities In A Family

Gen 2:18, 21-25Ephesians 5:21-6:4

Introduction

Responsibility: Specific duty, requirement or expectation.Something you are required to do as an upstanding member of a community.• Marriage and raising a family is hard work, takes a lot of effort• It takes commitment from all that are involved• If done right, and responsibilities and roles are understood, it is the most enjoyable entity.• God designed marriage to be good and to be enjoyed• God ordained marriage to bring help to the life of the man. (Gen. 2:18)• The reason the man needs help is because there is work to be done, purpose to be fulfilled.• So, marriage is designed so that the work here on earth can be carried out and the purpose

of creation can be fulfilled. • Marriage is for partnership, companionship (Malachi 2:14)• It is also for procreation (Malachi 2:15)

Our Responsibilities

4 Areas of Responsibility1. God: Worship, Devotion, Obedience, Prayer (the most

important)2. Each other: love, respect, affirmation, intimacy, generosity3. Marriage: chores, bills, others4. Children: security, education, nurture, encourage,

support, discipline

Factors That Impact Responsibilities

1. The Order of Creation• God created us male and female, we are not created the same (Gen. 1:27, Matt.9:4)• Our brains are wired differently. • Our hormones are different• Even though man and woman become one in marriage (Matt.9:6), we still handle situations

and challenges differently because of the way God created us.• The husband is the initiator or the lead, director in the marriage. (Gen. 2:24)

2. The Order of Culture• Marrying more than one wife is cultural, not God’s idea• Depending on culture, male or female may take dominant role in marriage• Times are changing and expectations are changing.

Factors That Impact Responsibilities

The Order of Christianity• Ephesians 5:18-29• Dependent on the order of creation• Fashioned after the love of Christ to the church• And the submission of the church to Christ• You are no longer two, you are one as Christ and the Church

are one!• That is why it is wrong for the husband and wife to have

different visions for the family.• You are partners!

Responsibilities of Each Entity in the Family Based on the orders of Creation and Christianity Our responsibilities must mirror Christ You cannot have a Christian family without Christ The closer you have to God, the easier it is to have a successful home and family

The Husband/Man (Ephesians 5:25-33)• You must leave to cleave (Genesis 2:24)• The head as Christ is the Head of the Church- Genesis 2:24• Must love your wife as your own body. • Must present her blameless with no spot or wrinkle• Take care of your wife, you cannot neglect or abuse your body• Your words to her must be sanctifying, encouraging, uplifting, affirming• Must nourish and cherish her• Communicate with her

The Husband/Man (Ephesians 5:25-33) • Take the lead in the home, in spiritual (Prayers,

worship, giving to God) and natural matters.• Leadership means servanthood. • Lead by example, not by dictation. • Submission is to one another• Dwell with your wife with understanding (1

Peter 3:7): emotions, hormones,

The Wife/Woman (Ephesians 5:22-24)• Be a help meet, a good thing, favor from the Lord• Honor and respect the husband• Submit to YOUR OWN husband as to the Lord• Build your home (Proverbs 14:1, Proverbs 31:10-31),

make it a haven, delightful for your husband and children to come to• Pray for your husband• Take care of your home.

Parents’ Responsibility Towards Children (Ephesians 6:4)• Bring them up in Christ• Do not provoke them• Get involved with their lives• Create good memories with them• Spend time with them, encourage them• Leave them an inheritance (Proverbs 13:22)• “Dress” them up appropriately (1 Samuel 2:18-19) for what and where God has called them

to• Types of Dressing: Spiritual Dressing Emotional Dressing Physical and Social Dressing• Discipline them (Prov. 13:24, Prov. 23:13-14 NLT, Rev. 19:13, Isaiah 11:1)

Children’s Responsibility• Obey your parents in the Lord• Honor your father and mother

ConfessionI boldly declare today that I am blessed, my spouse is blessed, my children are blessed. We will fulfill purpose. My family will be an indicator of the goodness and glory of God. We shall be called a household of faith, the family that dominates in Jesus Name