The Bible always exists as an example of God's design, purpose, and will for today. This works becasue "there is nothing new under the sun". So when looking at families, the example of God's design for families is in there.
The aspect I refer to in this post is the multi generational aspect of families. Studying Bible families, especially in the early days, you see that they were usually multiple generations living together or in close proximity. This was the norm.
More than just living together, there was a built in respect level for the elderly. Age was recognized as wisdom. The assumption was that age was right until proven wrong. I do not refer to specific stories, rather the overall trends across the families recorded.
This is in stark contrast to the general notion today. Society today praises youth, even villages age. Watch any TV show and you get a feel for kids, teenagers, being the mature ones, setting rules, making right choices, controlling things. This idea of youth rule is in cartoons, sitcoms, movies, books, etc. Children are empowered to make their own choices, lead their own lives, be critical of elders and expecially family. The general trend is exactly opposite to God's design in the Bible.
Why is this important? Well to start, the family is God's design for wisdom and prosperity. The structure of family, not school, is God's plan for raising new generations. The family is the original society structure designed by god. Even Church coming much later. School, as we know it today, was not designed by god.
In a family there is identity. Bible days, people identified themselves by their family, their father. Their family was who they were. Common beliefs, traits, lives all revolved around family. Ask a jet who they were and you get a family history line and a location, not a school and career.
Today our families are split geographically and more importantly generational. The wisdom of parents is suspect, even rejected. Grandparents are forgotten, pushed aside as non productive. Each new generation has its own way of doing things, it's own identity.
But there is nothing new under the sun.
God designed a family to have multi generations leaning on each other. The young bring energy, life, brightness. The middle aged bring solid foundations, work, success, structure, drive. The old bring wisdom, openness, boldness, history. The energy of youth is directed into the right paths by middle aged and kept in check by elderly.
How much have we lost today by splitting family generation in seeking each a private and better life? We see it constantly. So much wisdom and history is lost. The elderly had it, but that was rejected, replaced by self help books and modern science. Direction and purpose in life is tough to find among the youth, who are floundering in a sea of self directed discovery through trial and error.
What if life wasn't this hard? What if children, teenagers, young adults would rely on their parents for advice and direction? What if grandparents were the daily rock, wisdom, teachers that brought experience to life without trial and error? What if finding the right path was as easy as asking someone who has been there?
Society can only offer substitutes. No one will ever love you and care about your future more than family. No teacher, scientist, politician, boss, etc will ever replace those of your own flesh and blood who have a self preservation based drive to see you succeed. They can't. It isn't God's design. A parent, Grand parent, great grand parent... They understand. They know. They love with all their heart. They sacrifice willingly and happily for the young. They year to pass along family wisdom, skills, history.
Breaking from modern lies about family structure and value is where wisdom is found. Where life is easier. Where each generation builds on the success of the one prior instead of starting over.
Why do the young want to start over? Why start from scratch figuring things out? Why not start wise and experienced by listening to those who have already done this, and love. If every generation starts fresh on this journey, all the pain and suffering of learning is for naught. It repeats. The future is doomed to repeat itself and no generation can ever get ahead, they are always playing catch up.
Family. That's God's design for success and easy life. The very fact that it is attacked today is a strong sign that it is right. Family. God's school of the ages.
Posted via Blogaway
