The foundation of the first home was laid by God. “And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed” (Gen. 2:8).

In making this home, more than man was needed: “And the Lord God said, it is not good that man should be alone; I will make him an help meet, one adapted, or suitable for him” (vs. 18).

After creating Eve and uniting her with Adam: “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Gen. 1:28). The Bible names only the first three sons, Cain, Abel and Seth, but others were b9rn: “And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years; and he begat sons and daughters” (Gen. 5:4).

When the wife and children respect the man and fear the Lord” “Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee, thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house; thy children like olive plants round about thy table” (Ps. 128:2-3). Children are said to be “an heritage of the Lord” (Ps. 127:3). “Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers” (Prov 17:6).

Wives are told how to relate to their husbands: “Wives, submit yourselves unto you own husbands, so as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church” (Eph 5:22-23).

Husbands are told how to regard their wives: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. Let everyone of you in particular love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband” (vs. 25-33).

Husbands are also cautioned: “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them” (Col. 3:19). Wives should be in subjection to their husbands: “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husband; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation (manner of life) of the wives” (1 Peter 3:1).

Husbands must always be considerate of their wives: “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered” (vs. 7).

Children’s lessons begin early, in the cradle: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right” (Eph. 6:1). Parents must know early how to bring up the children: “And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: and bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (vs. 4); and also, “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged” (Col. 3:21).

Mothers can bind the hearts of the loved ones at home together: “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and her tongue is the law of kindness” (Prov. 31:26). We want to get into the heart of our children — we can if we hold them, love them, teach them, help them and bless them. Such a mother will be regarded “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her” (vs. 28).

There is no sight as pleasing as loving husbands, a worthy wife, and good children. Home is the grandest of all institutions.

Faithfully, parents should teach the precepts and commandments of God to their children: “And thou shall teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deut 6:7).

The home should be made a school of instruction. The evenings should be cherished as precious seasons, to be devoted to the instruction of the children in the way of righteousness. Too many children are sadly neglected. They are not educated in the home that they may comprehend the truth of God, and are not trained to love justice and to do judgment.

They should be patiently instructed, that they may understand the laws that govern them, and that they may know the springs of their actions. They are to be brought into harmony with the laws of heaven, to cherish the truth as it is in Jesus. In this way they may be fitted to join the society of the angels, and to stand in the presence of the Redeemer.

A church within a church, a republic within a republic, a world within a world is spelled with four letters: H-O-M-E. If things go right there, they go right everywhere; if things go wrong there, they go wrong everywhere. After God laid the first foundation for home, He gave us rules for a happy home and how to keep things going right. When things go right in the home, there is a sufficient level of respect for person and property that assures people of their safety wherever they are, and the need for law enforcement and locks for doors are reduced to a minimum.

The door-sill of the dwelling-house is the foundation of Church and State. Domestic life over-arches and under-girds all other life. First, last and all the time, have Christ in your home.

Dr. Waiters can be reached at 704-636-3369.