A 2019 survey conducted by Lifeway Research identified the top 15 markers Americans consider to influence their identity. The number one marker at 73% is “My role in my family.” This discovery should be familiar to us. God’s design for the family from the beginning is for the family to be the foundation of the community. God created the family before he created any communities or the Church.

The state of our community is dependent on the state of the families in the community. If the families are dysfunctional, then the community will be dysfunctional. On the other hand, if the family is healthy and functioning correctly, our community will be better for it.

Of course, I am speaking in generalities. It is no secret that there will always be exceptions to this because of the presence of sin. No family is perfect. No community is perfect. But, concerning the family, we can strive to have godly families even in our imperfections.

The apostle Paul instructs the family in Ephesians 5:22-33 and Colossians 3:18-21. When you place these two texts next to each other, you can conclude that the firm foundation for a godly family is Jesus!

Wives are to submit to their husbands as long as it is fitting in the Lord. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves His Church. Children are to obey their parents because it pleases the Lord. Christ is the foundation of a godly family!

Picture a tripod. At the base of one leg of the tripod is the husband. The wife is at the bottom of the second leg. The child is at the base of the third leg of the tripod. There is a measure of distance between the husband, wife, and children in these positions. The Lord is at the top of the tripod. So, not only is there a separation between each family member, there is a separation between the family and the Lord. If each family member were to begin to move up the leg of the tripod toward the Lord, then the separation gap of separation between them and the Lord and the other family members would narrow. In other words, as each family member grows closer to the Lord, the family will grow closer. Why? Because the Lord is the foundation of a godly family!

So, what are you doing to move closer to the Lord?