When I walk through the door of my house, my wife will not call me, “Pastor”. Neither will my kids. Why? Because to her I’m “husband” and to them I’m “dad”. That’s how they see me first and that’s how I should see myself first. It’s how God sees me first.
When the Bible describes the necessary qualifications for an elder/pastor, it does so by prescribing the following: “He must manage his own household well...for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” In other words, before a man can lead others he must first be leading his family. Before becoming a leader, he’s already being a husband and a dad. Now, I don’t think this verse means that if you’re not an elder, pastor, or leader you get to skip reading it and get a ‘pass’ on managing and leading your home. On the contrary! I think the principle is clearly established and remains applicable to all men: before you are anything else, you are first and foremost husband and dad.
Paul gives ALL husbands the example of Jesus Christ: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). And Paul commands ALL fathers to raise their children “up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). The proper and preeminent role of the man in his home is to be a husband and to be a dad. If a man can see himself in these roles first, then all his other roles (i.e. provider, protector, leader, etc.) will be filled.
So, dear husband and dear dad, when you walk in to your home after a long day at work, notice your family is probably not going to ask you first how much you accomplished today, whether you got better reviews than yesterday or how much income you’ve brought in so far. Rather, your wife is going to first want to kiss you, hold your hand, and spend time with you and your kids are going to first tackle you, play with you and talk to you. When you come home, relish the fact that you are not greeted by your family with “teacher”, “doctor”, “plumber”, “carpenter”, “pastor”, or whichever term describes what you do. Because really, to them, none of those terms describe who you are. You’re her husband and you’re their dad. That’s how they see you first and that’s how you should see yourself first. It’s how God sees you first and He, above all, is for you, not against you.
I loved thus meditation -- so true; well done and well said, Jonathan! Everyone... Pass it on!!
Posted by: Kelly Spyker | 06/13/2012 at 08:46 AM