Different Roles of the Family Members

Different Roles of Members of the Family (Eph 6:1-9, Eph 5:21-33, Col. 3:18-21, I Ptr, 3:1-7)

In a Christian Nuclear family, every family member has specific roles to carry out in the home and the community. These roles have been outlined in the Bible.

The Father’s Role in the Home:

Christian Father in a Family:

The Christian Father in a family;

1. Leads his family in decision-making and sets a good example for his family physically, mentally and spiritually. This is because the husband is the head of the family. 1 Corinthians 11 verse 3 says, “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ” – NIV. This shows the importance of the Father being a good example in the home as he is to be led by Christ.
2. Teaches his children the right way to do things and to fear and respect God.
3. Encourages and motivates his children. Colossians 3 verse 21 says, “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged” – NIV.

Since the father is also the husband of his wife, he also has some responsibilities towards his wife.

Christian Husband’s Roles:

The Christian Husband’s Roles are:

1. To love his wife. Ephesians 5 verse 25 says “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” – NIV.
2. To serve his wife just as Jesus Christ served the Church. A husband serves his wife by understanding his wife’s needs and doing his best to provide those needs. This is how God wants a husband to treat his wife because Jesus Christ served His disciples when he was in human form (see Philippians 2:7).
3. To treat his wife as his equal because, in the Bible Adam’s wife, Eve, was created from his rib (see Genesis 2: 21-22). Therefore, a man’s wife is a part of him.
4. To consider his wife’s feelings when he makes decisions and plans. 1 Peter 3 verse 7 says, “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers” – NIV.

The Mother’s Role in the Home:

Christian Mother in a Family:

The Christian Mother in a family;

1. Carries the baby in her womb and gives birth to the children in the family (apart from in cases where the child (or children) are adopted). Psalm 139 verse 13 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” – NIV.
2. Takes care of the needs of her household, this includes the people that work and serve in her home. Proverbs 31: 14 – 15 says, “She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants” – NIV.
3. Keeps herself busy with the needs of her household and is not lazy. Proverbs 31 verse 27 says, “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness” – NIV.
4. Gives good, kind and wise advice to her family members. Proverbs 31 verse 26 says, “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue” – ESV.
5. Nurtures and comforts her family. Isaiah 66 verse 13 says, “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem” – ESV.
6. Shows her children that beauty is not based on our outward appearance but on the indestructible beauty of a gentle and calm spirit. 1 Peter 3: 3 – 4 says, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” – NIV.

Since the mother is also the wife to the husband, she has some responsibilities towards her husband.

Christian Wife’s Roles:

The Christian Wife’s Roles are:

1. To submit to her husband. This means she is to trust her husband and obey his directions and desires. Ephesians 5 verse 22 says, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord” – NKJV.
2. To support and be a helper to her husband. Genesis 2 verse 18 says, “Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him” – ESV.
3. To respect her husband. This means she values his opinion, and admires his wisdom and character. Ephesians 5 verse 33 says (in part), “… let the wife see that she respects her husband” – NKJV.
4. To love her husband. Titus 2 verse 4 says, “and so train the young women to love their husbands and children” – ESV.
5. To live her life in a Godly way showing honesty, purity and kindness. When she does this even if her husband does not believe in Jesus Christ her good example introduces him to Christianity. 1 Peter 3: 1 – 2 says, “Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives” – NIV.

The Children’s Role in the Household:

Children need to learn and grow to do what is right and God understand this. Children need to learn from and be guided by good Christian parents.

Roles of Christian Children in the Home:

The Roles of Christian Children in the home are:

1. To obey the instructions given to them by their parents or guardians. Colossians 3 verse 20 says, ” Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord” – NIV.
2. To show love continuously to their parents even when they are old. Proverbs 23 verse 22 says (in part), “… and do not despise your mother when she is old” – ESV.
3. To give their parents joy through the way they live their lives and the choices they make. Proverbs 23 verse 25 says, “Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice” – ESV.