Being the Head

Being the Head

I had a headache the other night. It was just awful! It throbbed so badly I could just lie down and rest a little until it faded. That one little headache made my whole body suffer, and because of that I could not accomplish anything for the whole evening. Isn't it interesting that the Word speaks about the husband as being the head of his family in the same way that Christ is the head of the church?

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. (NIV)

When your head is not feeling well or fails in its task, it affects the whole body. What does this mean to you as the husband in your home? Well it is quite simple. It means that if your 'body' (your family) is out of order and things are in chaos, you need to look at yourself.

Imagine how silly it would have been that when my head hurt I started to beat at my body. Could you imagine me grabbing myself around the neck and saying, "What is the matter with you body? Come into order! Get up and DO something?" It is not my body's fault is it? It is just reacting to the condition of my head.

So when someone looks at the condition of your family and the way your children and wife are acting, who do you think is responsible? When the Lord looks at the state of your family, who does He hold responsible?

The answer is the same for both questions. The Lord holds YOU responsible as the head of your home. Does this seem unreasonable to you?

If you walk into any business and it is in chaos, who do you blame? Don't you blame the boss? You say to yourself, "This company needs good leadership!" Well then, do not find it so strange that God holds you responsible for the condition of your home. If your wife is being difficult and your children are being rebellious, then it is a good time to look at yourself. Every one of us needs good leadership, and no matter how strong or weak your wife is, you have something that she does not have.

You have the delegated authority from Christ as head of your home.

You might want to argue with me. You might say, "But you do not know my wife. She is so strong willed! She does not listen to me. She doesn't care what I say." Well then it is up to you to make sure that she listens. It is up to you to bring her before the Lord and get wisdom.

If a company goes bankrupt, the boss is blamed, not the staff! And so it is the same in your home. If there is a lack, it is up to you to find a solution. This is not based on your skills, your ability or your temperament. It is based on your position of authority. So forget about how you feel. Forget about what you think, and lean on the Word of God.

Realize today that you are the head of your home. God has put you there as an example to your family. It is a heavy responsibility, but it is one you can do with His help. Then also remember that your family is looking up to you for leadership. No matter how strong any woman is, she is waiting for her man to rise up and take the lead. She is waiting to be instructed and encouraged.

Finally, let me leave you with this passage to bring the whole picture together:

Ephesians 5:33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. (NIV)

Love and lead your wife as if she was your own body. You expect your hand to obey your command. You also attend to your hand if it is hurt. In the same way, love and lead your family. In this way you will not only be obeying the Word, but you will be setting your family as a vessel in God's hand, as an example of His grace and His glory in this world!