How secure...

...is your Home-front?

Last year, someone was telling my husband and I about an attack on a military base (barracks) when the men (fathers) were out protecting/keeping others safe. In a flash, the Holy Spirit said that's what happens in some pastors' homes. Sad...

Remember David's story in 1 Samuel 29 & 30? David and his men went out to help Achish (a Philistine king) fight the Israelites. I'm sure they were hoping that after a (successful) war, they'd go home with plunder - and provision for their families. As it turned out, they went home early only to find that in their absence, they had been plundered.

As Mrs. Pastor and Pastor (of course) we should be careful that in looking out for and looking after other people's families or even earning a living that we're not leaving our own homes unattended or unprotected. I will never tire of pointing to this verse which must be a cornerstone verse for all of us in Ministry leadership positions:

"If someone does not know how to lead [manage] his own family [household], how can that person take care of God's church?"*

It is evident that God expect us to know how to and actually lead/manage our homes before we are truly "licensed" to take care of God's family - the church.

The Bible is replete with examples of people who did the work of the Lord conscientiously but were not as conscientious in taking care of their families. Eli** and his successor Samuel*** come to mind. In fact I wrote about Samuel's wife**** 3 years ago.

Alongside our husbands, we have a responsibility to ensure that our marriage and home remain secure and fortified against the attacks of the enemy. May God give us the wisdom to have the right priorities amidst ministry pressures. AMEN!

References:
* 1 Tim 3:5 - Expanded Bible
** 1 Sam 2: 12 - Now Eli's sons were evil men [scoundrels; good-for-nothings]; they did not care about [know; respect; regard] the Lord. (Expanded Bible)
*** 1 Sam 8: 1 - 5 - When Samuel grew old, he made his sons judges in Israel. The older son was named Joel and the younger Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. But they did not follow their father's example; they were only interested in making money, so they accepted bribes and did not decide cases honestly. Then all the leaders of Israel met together, went to Samuel in Ramah, and said to him, "Look, you are getting and your sons don't follow your example. So then, appoint a king to rule over us, so we will have a king, as other countries have." (GNT)
**** http://mrs-pastor-and-pastor-mrs.blogspot.ca/2011/07/mrs-s-elkanah.html