What Does The Bible Say About Family?

It’s no secret that everyone wants to have a happy family. We also want to have a purposeful family with a mission and vision. One of our goals should be to make sure that each member of our family becomes successful in life. A home that is full of laughter, unity, peace, and satisfaction is what we desire. The question, however, is how can we achieve these things? We know where we want our family to be, but how can we get there? 

Family is very significant to us as human beings. It is said that it is the basic unit of society. Its importance can scarcely be exaggerated. This is why the world offers us lots of books and resources on how to ‘properly’ build a family. Myriad books and other forms of media are being published every year regarding marriage and parenting. Thousands of self-help books are sold in the market today that provide information on how to become a better husband, wife, parent and child. You can even find video tutorials on the Internet that give you tips and tricks on how to have a happy family. In order for us to fully understand the nature and purpose of family, however, we must turn to the Bible, which contains all the Truth we need, because God created family.

The Creator of Family

What Does the Bible Say About Family?

For us to understand what a family is and what it should be, we need to first understand how God, the Creator of family, defines it.  There is no better way of knowing about created things than knowing the creator. For example, if you want to understand more about the design and mechanism of a certain watch, you need to ask the watchmaker who crafted it. Surely, his answer will satisfy you, since he was the one who created it. Thus, the best way for us to know how God defines family is to read the Bible. 

First of all, a family is for God. God designed it and He has set a framework for Christian families or households to function within. “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.  Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.” (Colossians 3:18-21). Always remember that family is created by God and for God. A family is truly a gift from God, one which we can deeply enjoy. 

Family is for God

What Does the Bible Say About Family?

How sweet it is to know that the church of God is family-oriented. It is a wonderful desire to have a family of our own, so long as it is a God-given desire. That said, we need to be cautious and make sure that family does not sit on the throne of our hearts. There should only be one ruler in our hearts. The throne of our hearts should be exclusively reserved for Christ and Christ alone. Family can give us joy, but not everything we need. There are many individuals out there who put all their hope in their kids, parents, siblings, grandparents, and relatives, but this is false hope. Hope should be put in Christ. 

We do not want our family to impede the gospel, but instead, it should help draw us further into the good news, which is Christ himself. God fashioned family for us to have an understanding about the love and unity of the Trinity. Do not forget that our family must point us towards God and the gospel. Loving our family becomes easier and more guilt-free if we love Christ first. Our family should drive us forward towards a more intimate and genuine relationship with God. As the apostle Paul said, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.” (For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Romans 11:36). Obviously, family falls within this verse. Our family is from God, family is through God, and family is for God. A successful family is one that is committed to glorifying God.

What Does the Bible Say About Family?

There is no doubt that there is great joy in family, but such joy is incomplete if we do not acknowledge the one who created it. One of the best things about our God is that He not only gives us good gifts for us to be happy, but He also completes our happiness and makes our family whole.