COVENANT RESPONSIBILITIES IN MARRIAGE

For a marriage to be successful and for both parties to enjoy a fulfiled marriage life, each partner must be aware of their covenant responsibilities to each other and to their family.

Covenant Responsibilities Of The Husband

When a husband and his wife occupy their covenant positions in the home, they are bound to enjoy a hitch-free married life. So, let us now consider the covenant responsibilities of each member in the marriage covenant.

The husband's function in the home becomes easy when the covenant platform for its operation is known. That platform is love. A man will find it difficult to win the submission of a wife he doesn't love; but he won't need to pray and fast to win the submission of a wife that is loved. Submission flows naturally from a woman who is loved. The carnal nature of man makes him put himself first, and everybody else after. But by this covenant demand, everyone in the home must be considered first, before the man. Nothing makes a man's role in the home effective as love. When love is in place, it won't cost you anything to protect your wife and children. Providing for them will be a natural thing to you. You will not need to force yourself to train and raise your children. You will do it joyfully. As the husband, head and leader of the home, you are not to take advantage of other members of the Family, but to serve their interest. As a leader, you are to serve the interest of your subjects, and not oppress them. You should be interested in their wellbeing and fulfilment, and not be an opportunist or sadist. If you adopt this leadership style, you will enjoy the honour, submission and love of your Family members. The husband is to take care of his wife you owe your Family a protective responsibility, so do everything to ensure their social security and protection. Don't watch the devil tear down your children and molest your wife. God instructed Adam to dress and keep the garden; that was why God did not spare him when the serpent gained entrance into the garden. He failed in his duty. The husband has to be a hard-working and thoughtful man. He must also be a genuine planner, because God has ordained him the provider of the home. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. Child training is another covenant responsibility of the man. You don't watch the errors in your children degenerate into crisis. When reports came to Eli that his children were not behaving well, God sent Samuel to warn him. But Eli's response was, "He is God, let Him do it." Eli failed woefully in his responsibilities towards his children. Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Note that you don't raise children with a whip, you raise them with the Word of God.

Covenant Responsibilities Of The Wife

The wife is the God-ordained helper of the man. In Genesis 2:18, God said, "...I will make him an help meet for him." She is a supporter, not an oppressor. God established the marriage institution in order to give the man a suitable helper. Just as the man is an ordained leader, the wife is an ordained helper in the home. The wife's ministry is to ensure that the man does not fail in his duties and that the home or Family system does not break down. The responsibility of raising the children is the wife's, because she spends more time with them than the man does. She is there to ensure that the children are properly brought up, exhibiting good character. She must also be hospitable. Hospitality in the home is determined by the woman. The more hospitable you are as a woman, the more blessed your home becomes, because distribution is the only way to multiplication. The wife must be ready to welcome strangers and make them comfortable. Proverbs 31:10-15 enumerates the helps ministry of the wife. She is a genuine supporter and home maker, not an oppressor of the helpers in the house. She treats both her children and helpers equally. She doesn't cook a different food for her Family, while the house maids are left to eat whatever food is available. Neither does she treat the maids as slaves, by serving them food in horrible plates. A wife is supposed to promote her husband. As a home maker, she gives her husband the rest and dignity that is due to him. For a home to be glorious, the husband must operate on the platform of love. His relationship with every member of the Family must be based on love selfless love, the kind Jesus has for the Church. The wife must operate on the platform of submission. She must support her husband and succour him in every area of life. This must also be extended to other members of the Family. As parents, perform your covenant responsibilities towards your children, without being forced to do so. Learn to plan together, so you can live a stress-free life.

Do everything with the wisdom of God, and your generation will thank God for your life. Your home shall be blessed and be a blessing to others, in Jesus' name! It shall be a pace-setter, showing others what a successful home is like, and causing them to desire it. Your home shall be fruitful! Love, joy and peace shall abound there! You shall not fail, in Jesus' name!