By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established. (Proverbs 24:3)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9)
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony. (Psalm 133:1)
It is sad to see division within families — where people live under the same roof, yet their relationships are broken.
People share the same yard but are separated from each other; they do not speak.
They ride in the same car, and it seems as if they are close, but their hearts are far apart.
They share the same bed, yet their love has grown distant.
Brother no longer speaks to brother.
And this is exactly what the enemy desires — that people live without peace among one another. For living in harmony is a sign that we are children of God.
When we live in peace with one another, our strength — physical, spiritual, material, and financial — increases.
When we live in unity, we can pray together. (Matthew 18:20)
Disunity within a family weakens it. They may have much money and property, but division destroys everything, for they cannot come closer to each other.
Remember that the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy — and one of his strongest weapons is family division.
An act of adultery is a sign of disrespect within the family — not only toward the husband or wife, but also toward the children, who suffer when their parents separate.
Division causes children to lose respect for their parents, because they no longer know whom to follow when their parents are divided.
A family that is not united has no direction. Everyone goes their own way, each wanting to prove themselves. Because of this lack of unity, many elders are neglected or mistreated.
Often, money brings division. There are family homes that need care; the children have money, but because of disunity, no one helps — each one thinks the other wants to take advantage.
Division within families brings stress and depression. Many abandon their families, ignoring their responsibilities — and this causes serious social problems in our community.
But as for you, teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Older men should be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.
Likewise, older women should behave reverently, not slanderers or addicted to wine, but teachers of what is good. They must encourage the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, good homemakers, kind, and submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be dishonored. (Titus 2:1–5)
We are living in difficult times — a time with little respect and little fear of God; where evil is called good and good is called evil; where immorality runs freely, and darkness grows deeper. Yet we must pay attention to what the Word of God teaches us about how to live in such times.
It is written in 2 Timothy 3:10:
“But you have followed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance.”
It is time for the elders to pass down the good manners and respect they once received to their children and grandchildren.
It is time to promote unity within the family.
Written by Pastor Marcel Balootje.