YOU ARE A KEEPER OF YOUR FAMILY
It would be wrong to say that you are a follower of Christ leaving your family in their troubles. You have responsibilities with regard to your family. In all circumstances, this is your responsibility to see your family in a good order. This rule applies to you whether you are a father or father –in-law, mother or mother-in-law, a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister.
Let us see some of the verses from the Bible. Then Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? Ruth 3:1. Orpah left her mother-in-law Naomi but Ruth did not. Ruth held her responsibility to not to leave her mother-in-law in her troubles and old age. Likewise, Naomi also had thought for her Ruth. From the above verse, it is clear in her saying that she has to seek rest for her that it may be well with her. This mutual act of holding responsibilities results her name to appear in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus as it is written- Boaz begat Obed of Ruth Matthews 1:5
It is also important to know that God sees your identity with your family. Though the salvation for is the individual, from God’s point of view your connectivity with the family matters a lot. This is the reason Lord asked Cain – where is your brother Abel? (Not where is Abel?) And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. Genesis 4:9-10. Cain replied God in anger – Am I my brother’s keeper? Though he replied in anger, this is true. You are a keeper of your brother. You are a keeper of your family. This is the reason God asked him- Where is Abel thy brother?
Our Lord also set an example how one should have his responsibility towards his family. When He was on the cross, he fulfilled His responsibility towards his mother. Though Jesus was not only son to her mother, Our Lord Jesus himself showed an example how a son should have his responsibility. You and I cannot neglect our role towards our family members that other family members will have to take care of things. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son ! John 19:26. Our Lord gave John, whom he loved, as son to His mother! He fulfilled his responsibility.
More particularly, those who want to do His service need to bear in mind that this is very much essential to have responsibilities towards his family as it is written in the Bible- for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God ? 1 Timothy 3:5