Author : William Stewart
reprinted from “…And They Shall Become One Flesh” available on Amazon.com in Kindle format.
And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15)
Family And Faith
Joshua’s challenge to the people of Israel was not only a motivational oration by a departing leader, but a solid declaration of his continued practice with his own family. His decision to serve the LORD was not only for himself, but for his family.
This does not mean that Joshua forced obedience to the LORD among the members of his family, against their will. Rather, he, as the leader of his family, directed them in the ways of God, and encouraged the development of their faith. Each one has an individual responsibility, but family members have a spiritual responsibility to one another. Cain arrogantly asked,
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9)
Yes, indeed, we are our brother’s keeper. We are the keeper for our entire family, including our spouse.
There are several examples of families of faith in the Scriptures. Consider:
- Noah prepared an ark for the saving of his household (Hebrews 11:7)
- Moses’ parents hid him from the Egyptian soldiers, and eventually Moses would imitate their faith (Hebrews 11:23-27)
- Angels led Lot, his wife, and his daughters away from Sodom (Genesis 19:16)
- Rahab sought deliverance for herself and her family (Joshua 2:12-13; 6:23)
- Cornelius called together his friends and relatives to hear the gospel (Acts 10:24)
- Lydia, one of the women who met at the riverside (Acts 16:13-14) was sure to have the gospel shared with her family (Acts 16:15)
- The Philippian jailer “and all his family were baptized” (Acts 16:32-33)
Heeding Spousal Advice
As Pilate sat in the Praetorium to judge Jesus, his wife sent a message to him. The message was clear:
“Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him” (Matthew 27:19)
Perhaps he shrugged her warning off, too busy to consider it. Or, it might be that he did heed her advice, and that is why he tried to wash his hands of the outcome that day. Spousal advice comes from one who has our best interest at heart.
We have focused several times on the fact that the woman was given as a helper to man (Genesis 2:19). How foolish for him to not consider a word of counsel from her. No man is so wise that he cannot benefit from his wife’s perspective. In fact, Abraham was commanded to heed the voice of his wife (Genesis 21:10-12). Nabal (1 Samuel 25) is an excellent example of the end of one who was unwilling to receive counsel. The woman is commanded to receive and obey her husband’s word, as he is charged with the leadership of the household. Eve is an example of the outcome when a woman does not seek her husband’s counsel (Genesis 3:1-6).
A Few Words From Peter
The apostle Peter gave instruction for husbands and wives in 1 Peter 3, which we have already viewed a few times in our series. Once more, we return to this text, to note the need for husbands and wives to have concern for one another’s spiritual life.
Peter mentions our spiritual duties to one another in the text; obedience of the wife (1 Peter 3:1, 5), and the understanding of the husband toward his wife (1 Peter 3:7). But in addition to these duties, the need for a focus for spiritual things is seen throughout the text. The woman’s concern for her non-Christian husband, and attention to living a righteous life, can prompt him to be won to the Lord.
Peter closes the portion of text which speaks specifically to husbands and wives with the reminder that we are “…heirs together of the grace of life…” As such, we ought to be very focused on how to help each other to attain the glory of heaven. From 1 Peter 3:8-12, the scope of Peter’s instruction is now to all Christians, not couples, but the principles are certainly applicable to the concern we should have for our spouse’s soul. Among other things, we need to share the same MIND, have COMPASSION for the other, share DUTIFUL love, turn from evil and DO GOOD. The end result – that we may inherit a blessing.
