In the 1970’s feminist Gloria Steinem popularized the quote “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle”. It represented the growing notion that the traditional role of man being a leader in the home and family was outdated and absurd. Since then we have seen a reduction in the role men play in American family and with that the many social ills that accompany this philosophy. We shouldn’t be surprised with this. All we have to do is look to the Scriptures to see when men don’t take on their God given responsibilities as leaders, tragedy follows. When Adam didn’t take the moral lead when his wife was tempted, it got them kicked out of the garden. When the great man of God Eli didn’t restrain his sons, it caused misery for his family and Israel. Almost without fail when you see families struggling in the Bible, it comes from a man not assuming the role God had intended. It doesn’t matter if it’s in society, the church, or the home, when men don’t take on the responsibility of leadership that God has appointed them, bad things come about!
I always hated buying gifts for my Mom. If I got her something like a new set of pans, it was like saying “Here’s something you can use to go make me something to eat”. A gift for her was seemingly a gift for me. There are however gifts you give that benefit you more than the receiver. For example, forgiveness. When you give it, you are giving it to yourself as much as you are giving it to them. Jesus said that when we forgive others it means God is forgiving us our wrongs (Matthew 6:14-15). I once read: “ Heaven is where everyone's forgiven. Hell is where nobody's forgiven. So, when we forgive we pull heaven down into our lives. When we withhold forgiveness, we pull hell up into our lives ” Give yourself something nice today, Forgive.
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