We are a nation of kings and priests. I am not speaking of America itself, but the culture of Christianity. In his letter to the seven churches, John twice refers to us as kings and priests (Revelation 1:6, 5:10). What does this mean? We have the responsibility to rule our households righteously and religiously. What I mean is to watch over the moral and spiritual compasses of our families. Morality and spirituality are the two fingers in our character that can and do touch ever fiber our our character and being. And what of single mothers? You, then, are called to be a queen and a priestess.
"Divinely directed decisions are on the lips of the king; his mouth should not transgress in judgment." Proverbs 16:10, Amplified
It is proper for a king to submit his heart to the Lord and allow his will to be guided by the Lord. Saul and many other kings allowed for their own wills to override what the Lord wanted. In fact, it was because of the ill will of Rehoboam that the nation of Israel was split into two kingdoms. The Northern ten tribes never had a king that was righteous, whereas the nation of Judah suffered under the hands of unrighteous kings and prospered under the hands of righteous kings.
Every decision that we make for our families should be first bathed in prayer. We cannot be divinely directed if we are not submitted to the Divine.
Rule #1: Pray over your family for every aspect of their lives.
"A just balance or scales are the Lord's; all the weights of the bag are His work [established on His eternal principles]." Proverbs 10:11, Amplified
This verse may seem to be out of place in a group of verses focused on kings. However, it is not. Balances and weights were the deciding factors on how much something costs. If the weights were too light, that would mean that all the more weights would be needed to balance the scale. More weights, more money. There was a butcher and a baker who were the best of friends. Every week, the butcher would give the baker a pound of meat in exchange for a one pound loaf of bread. At one point in their relationship, the baker became extremely offended because he had found that the butcher was shorting him a couple ounces of meat and he demanded an answer. The butcher simply looked at the baker and stated that the one pound loaf was the balancing weight.
The balance of our heart and judgement needs to have the weight of the Word of God. Our own words and thoughts will always be unjust, but the Word of God is right and true. A king must therefore be right and true.
Rule #2: Read your Bible everyday. Develop a devotion for yourself.
"It is an abomination [to God and men] for kings to commit wickedness, for the throne is established and made secure by righteousness - spiritual and moral rectitude in every area and relation." Proverbs 10:12, Amplified
The position of rule is not necessarily the most prestigious role in the kingdom of God, but it should be the most righteous. What I mean is, there is a lot of responsibility for the one sitting on the throne. The decisions that are made will not always be the most popular. As long as the decision made are weighed against the Word of God, then the throne will be established.
Fathers and mothers will not always be well liked by their children. But believe me when I say that you children will respect you in the end or sticking to your decisions. You will not always be the super star in their lives. When you are spiritually and morally in line with what the Lord would have for you, then your children have that example to go off of when they receive their throne of rule.
Rule#3: Line up every decision made with the Word of God. When prayer and devotion are a focus of your daily life, this should be easier to discern the voice of the Lord.
"Right and just lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right." Proverbs 16:13, Amplified
There is camaraderie found in like minds. It can get lonely for one sitting on the throne. The throne was never meant to separate the king form the people. Fellowship is an important aspect in the life of a Christian. Like minds find refuge in each other.
Rule #4: Fellowship with other believers.
"The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it." Proverbs 16:14, Amplified
How does this fit into the role of parenting? It was in the power of the king to put to death anyone of his choosing at any time for anything. For the child, the wrath of a parent might bring the death of freedoms and the birth of restrictions. When King David transgressed against the Lord by numbering the people, judgement came down on him from the Lord. Gad, a prophet of the Lord came to David with a message: "Choose for yourself, either three years of famine, or three months to be defeated by your foes with the sword of your enemies overtaking you, or else three days of the sword of the Lord - the plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel." (First Chronicles 21:11-12, NKJV) David pleaded with the Lord and offered a sacrifice to appease the wrath of the Lord. He did not want the people to be punished for his transgression. David appeased the wrath of the Lord.
Rule #5: Do not be unappeasable and do not allow for your anger to be the end all of things. There must be a good balance between judgement and mercy.
"In the light of the king's countenance is life, and his favor is as a cloud bringing the spring rain." Proverbs 16:15, Amplified
The king must be a refuge for his people. Just as the Lord opened the door to salvation and life for humanity, so we too must be that life giver. I am not saying that we are to step into the shoes of God and become the Redeemer. However, we must give the idea that love is available in our hearts. Once man realizes that God is not just about wrath and judgement but love as well, He then becomes appealing to them. Note however, that God does not change Himself to appeal to man, He rather exposes another facet of His being.
Rule #6: Always let your children realize the love that you have for them. Constantly remind them of the love that you have for them.
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