THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU

Main Scriptures: Gen.3:4-9

More Scriptures: Jn.10:11, 1Sam.3:13, Gen.18:19

And when the woman (wife) saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat and gave also unto her husband with her and he did eat. And the eyes of them were opened and they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And THE LORD GOD CALLED UNTO ADAM (HUSBAND) and said unto him, where art thou? (Gen.3:6-9)

Many a time when the family system breaks down, the society tells you it is the fault of the wife. When the husband shirks in his responsibilities as a man, husband and father, the wife is blamed for it. Consequently, you find more women in prayer houses and marriage conferences seeking for ways to salvage their family-fold. And the resultant effect is that we have raised irresponsible husbands and fathers who would rather be sheep than shepherds. All around us we find many husbands becoming dependent on their sheep for their survival. This is not the original plan of God for the husbandman. So, when I read the book titled “Leadership Gold” authored by Dr. John Maxwell my perspective changed and was enhanced. He said, “Responsibility: like it or not, the buck stops with the leader”. Now except in your family-fold, you are not the leader, this may not appeal to you. But if you are the husband of your wife and the father of your children, and that you asked for the hand of your wife from her parents in marriage, then you must wake up to take responsibility for your sheep. The failure or success of your family is your responsibility. If your family succeeds it is your gain. If your family fails it is your fault.

Few examples will help your understanding. When the wife ate the fruit in disobedience to God’s instructions, God knew who ate it and He also knew who opened the door for the devil. But when He came visiting, He did not call the wife. He called the husband first (Gen.3:4-9). The second is the Priest Eli. When his children lived godless lives, God did not call his wife nor did He hold the wife responsible for the misbehavior of the children. He held the husband responsible (1Sam.3:11-13). God is interested in your family and He wants you to be responsible. And when you become responsible, you earn the confidence of your wife and children and others. You become a fountain of influence and examples to other husbands out there. God also starts committing greater tasks into your hands. Excuses make any husband lame.

SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

• Father, in the Name of Jesus, deliver me from every deceitfulness of life.
• Father, in the Name of Jesus, make me a responsible man, husband and father.
• Father, in the Name of Jesus, deliver me from fear and excuses.

FAITH CONFESSION

I take responsibility for the lives of my wife and children in all things and at all times because that makes me grow in maturity as a good and godly husband in Jesus Name. Amen.

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