10th June, 2022.

FAMILY AFFAIRS Pt.5

Amos 3:3 Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction? NLT

WORK AS A TEAM

On my wedding day, the preacher shared the story of his father and mother. He told us why his late father remained an under achiever all his life. He stressed on the fact that he was a man who didn't work with his wife to plan a better life for the family. Anytime his wife brings suggestions that will move the family forward, he would disregard it because he had a mindset that women aren't wise. Till date, there are men who do not plan with their wives. Their believe is that most women know nothing. Have you ever come around men who describe women's brain as fish brain? If you know any of such, give them a "Pentecostal" distance. Such people may influence you to run your family on a solo mode. God's intention for the family is to operate as a formidable team that will advance His purpose here on earth. Oneness of the two should be the strongest unit on earth because the bonding should be spiritual, emotional, mental and physical.

If you don't want to live and die as an underachiever, work as a team with your spouse. Every team runs with a vision and there are plans on how to achieve the vision. If I may ask, what plans do you have for your family and children? Do you have plans to build a house you can call your home? I know an old couple who lived in a particular rented apartment for over 40 years. They got married there and had all their children there. Their grandchildren visited them there as well. When landed property was cheap in their neighbourhood, the man was doing his thing while the wife was also doing her thing. No vision, no cooperation. After 40 years, the children of the landlord sent them packing. They were tired of seeing his face. Money was not the problem of this man at least in his youthful days. He had a good job, traveled abroad and enjoyed life but he spent a larger part of his married life( 40 years) as a tenant. That shouldn't be your story.

As a man, your duty is to cast a vision for your family, interpret it correctly to your wife and let her know her role. That's leadership. You cannot know the value your wife will add to your life and family in general until you share your vision with her. What women react to most times isn't lack of money but lack of vision. God created them to be led. When they come under a bad family leader, they react negatively because something in them want to be guided and led. Often, most single guys have inferiority complex problems when they come around a lady that has achieved. If only they know that such ladies crave true and genuine leadership, they won't run back if led. Even some husbands have problems when their wives earn more. That's a sign of visionless and insecure men. If the family runs as a team, your leadership will channel resources in the direction of your vision. In family team work, it is not "my money" neither is it "her money", it is "our money." If a woman knows that her earnings would be spent on something profitable for the family, she won't hold back. By nature, women are natural givers. You can do little as an individual but you can do alot as a team. It is not always about abundance of resources but resourcefulness.