Recently, while my wife Joy and I were shopping in Wal-Mart, we ran into a school teacher who had worked with her. She stated that she is eligible for retirement, but that she continues to work because of the potential good influence she could have over her students. Every good teacher possesses this quality--the desire to help others.
During the short conversation we had with this teacher, she stated that of the twenty students in her class, only four had two parents at home. That's right here in middle Tennessee, not some distant state or country. The family, as God would have it, is quickly disintegrating in our country, our state, and even our own town. A lot of factors may figure into this problem, but the major one is God's absence from most people's lives.
The first chapter of Romans describes the downward spiral of those who reject God. It is an ugly picture and one that has been repeated time after time throughout history. If we would only learn from history, as God would have us to, we would not have to suffer through so many heart-wrenching situations in our lives.
Yes, the family, as many of us who are older know it, is vanishing. More and more children are being raised by one parent, or by their grandparents. This is not healthy for the children, the parent, the grandparents, or society in general.
God's word teaches that fathers and mothers are to raise their own children (Ephesians 6:4; Titus 2:4-5). These children are to grow, marry, and have families of their own (Genesis 2:24). Some circumstances, such as the death of one of the parents, require one parent to raise the children alone. In such cases, it is better for the widow to remarry and continue to live life as God's word teaches (1 Timothy 5:14).
Even in many two-parent families today, the parents are not raising the children. A babysitter, a pre-school, or a person other than the parents is doing the majority of the child rearing; thus they are having more influence over the children than the parents. Parents comfort themselves by rationalizing that the little time they do spend with their children is quality time. However, we are raising a generation that does not know what real family life is like, and when they become parents, they will likely continue the lifestyle their parents have taught them.
Where is the family? Dad's working overtime. Mom has a job that she's going to quit soon. The children are engaged in activities designed to keep them busy till mom or dad get home. And, with all the things that mom and dad are able to buy with their extra money, the children ought to be happy. In fact, if mom and dad have time this summer, and are able to take their vacations at the same time, the family may spend a week together.
How many Christian households does this describe? As Paul told the Ephesians, "wake up" redeem the time that you've wasted. Your children will soon be grown and gone. What will you have taught them? Think on these things!