Steve Lyston | Family, the first line of government

It is important for us to realise that there are three main types of government - civil government, the Church and the family. However, the family is the first line of government - which means the first line of direction control, management and rule that ultimately reflects on all other areas of governing.

The problem that we currently have in the Church, the civil government and in the society overall is a reflection of the brokenness of the family; and if we are to fix anything in those other areas, we must first look at fixing what is wrong in the family altogether.

Crime, and even the negative actions of politicians, stem from lack of effective parenting. Common-law relationships and children being conceived out of wedlock (which are comparatively high within the Black and Hispanic communities) are among the hindrances that hinder us and economic development.

In this era, the area of family being the first line of government must be the first priority of any nation and of every church. Furthermore, laws that are passed must be beneficial to the familial infrastructure.

When God allows governments to come to power, He allows it for His purpose, not for their motives and agendas, and as such, everything they do must be for the betterment of God's original family design and plan.

Most global leaders are focusing on issues which are non-beneficial to families and put more pressure on the family unit which is already dysfunctional, generally speaking. We spend more on fixing roads, developing other infrastructure, and national security, while the simple things to support and improve the family are being taken away.

 

Treatment of the Family

 

According to Isaiah 66, God is not looking at buildings, but rather on the building of the human life and quality of life. We are seeing nations today ignoring the very statement they agreed to as part of the United Nations, in order to facilitate humane conditions for each person the betterment of all - the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

Many have closed and are closing their borders to millions of refugees, some drown in the process, some are murdered, while others are treated as less than human. Some nations have put laws in place for population control in order to have racial superiority.

No government can be successful without the family being their first priority. When the family is broken, it brings violence on a nation. When divorce is on the rise, the nation is in trouble.

Every family must have a state - somewhere to call home. When both the Church and the civil government

fail to support that, then we will undoubtedly see God shake administrations globally (Proverbs 8: 15; Proverbs 31: 8 - 9).

Every leader should realise that the success and extent of an administration will not be judged on economic advancement for the wealthy, but the treatment of the poor and the voiceless within a nation.

 

Rebuilding Required

 

The hand of God will be heavy on nations regarding the neglect and treatment of the poor and the stateless. Leaders of every sector need to rise up with plans that will benefit family - particularly poor families and those who have experienced emotional, physical, psychological and mental abuse globally.

The spiritual walls that have been torn down over the years by successive administrations must be rebuilt. Prayer needs to be restored to the schools and offices - public and private sectors. We don't want to see prayer after the fact, it needs to be included now.

Furthermore, organisations must give recognition and rewards to those employees and supporters who have sacrificed family time to help build their organisations. No robots or any other 'artificial intelligence' can replace the family.

Do more to help and support the families that help to build yours. Have on-site family counsellors and/or chaplains and help to reduce the divorce rates.

Put more cyber-related laws in place to protect the innocence of our children regarding social networks, gaming and pornography. Don't add to the destruction of our children, protect them. Without our children there is no future.

Churches must stop focusing on building bigger structures and start building the people.

- Steve Lyston is a biblical economics consultant and author of several books, including 'End Time Finance' and 'The New Millionaire'.