It Starts at Home

In far too many Christian homes today the wife not only is doing her job, but she’s doing her husband’s job as well. That’s because her husband isn’t being the spiritual leader that God has called him to be.

In the book of Exodus, we find an instance in which Moses was neglecting his responsibilities in the home. He hadn’t circumcised his son, so Zipporah did it. As a result, she was very upset with Moses.

However, Moses didn’t argue with his wife because she actually was right. Zipporah was effectively saying to her husband, “You’re not doing your job here. You’re the great Moses, about to lead the Israelites out of bondage, but you’re not taking care of your family. You’re not doing the things you’re supposed to be doing.”

All too often it’s the wife who says before a meal, “We should pray.” Meanwhile, the husband is eating like a Viking with food in both hands.

It’s the wife who says, “Hey, read a Bible story to the kids and pray with them before they go to bed” or “We need to be getting ready for church.” The wife is taking the initiative in spiritual matters.

And interestingly, the Bible says that if a husband doesn’t give his wife the respect and honor she deserves, it can actually hinder his prayer life (see 1 Peter 4:3).

If husbands would do what God calls them to do and take the initiative to lead in their homes, it would change our country. Almost every social ill in America today can be traced directly to the breakdown of the family, and specifically, the absence of fathers.

As Christian men, we need to have it together in our homes. It would make all the difference in the world today if husbands would be men of God.