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THE CREATION OF THE HOME

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CAL., KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK · Nov 28, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 48.

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THE CREATION OF THE HOME

By Mrs. M. C. Du Bois

THE home is as old as creation. Its corner-stone was laid in the beginning, when God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." Gen. 2:18. God understood the need of the human soul when He said, "It is not good that the man should be alone." Man was created a social being.
God had a noble purpose in the creation of woman. She had a work to do, a place assigned by her Creator for her to fill. A beautiful truth was made manifest in her creation. When Adam awoke from the deep sleep that God caused to fall upon him, and the woman was presented to him, he recognized her as "bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh," a part of himself, and, as such, to be "nourished and cherished" "even as the Lord cares for the church."
It has been said by some one, "Woman was not taken from man's head, to rule over him; not from his feet, to be put beneath him; but from his side, that she might stand his equal;" not his equal perhaps in physical size and strength, but his equal, his companion, in the responsibilities of home life; in intellectual pursuits; in all avenues for doing good to perishing humanity; in love and affection.
One of the most beautiful scenes upon earth is a true Christian home, where love rules supreme. Many homes of to-day are far below what God designed them to be. The home should be a miniature heaven, where love and contentment reign. Instead, we too often find discord and wrangling in professedly Christian households. God has chosen the marriage state to represent the relation existing between Himself and the church, but, alas, how little of the great love of Christ do we see manifest in many homes!
In the beginning, the home was not complete without offspring. There was, then, a world to be populated, hence the command,"Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." Gen. 1:28. God placed the husband at the head of the home, and, as such, to be the watchful sentinel, the faithful protector, the careful provider, the loving counselor, the strong, tender companion of wife and children. Being the stronger, he should take the brunt of the storms of life, that those dependent upon him might be protected from their chilling blasts. But in many homes how remiss is the husband in filling these posts of duty!
The husband's duty, however, does not end here. He should not only provide for the physical wants of his family, but he has a duty resting upon him to do his part to provide for the family's social and intellectual wants. Many husbands who are good providers so far as physical needs are concerned, are sadly deficient in sociability and in supplying food for the intellect.
Many a wife hungers for a pleasant talk with her husband upon the happenings of the day. But he sits down in silence to the carefully-prepared meal, eats in silence, then takes his political paper, and becomes oblivious to all around him until time to return to his work. Then the paper is dropped, and he rushes off without a word of tenderness or good cheer to wife or child. Evening comes, and is spent by the husband in study of the latest war news until bedtime.
Many husbands think if they provide a comfortable home, with food and clothing, for the family, their duty is done. A husband certainly ought to do all this, if he has good health, for the Word says, "If any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house [margin, "kindred"], he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." It is right for a man to provide for the temporal wants to the best of his ability. How often, however, we see a frail woman providing the daily bread for the family, while a hale, hearty husband spends his time in idleness!
As man was created with a social need, so the woman and the child partake of the same nature. And this want must be met to insure a happy, pleasant home. But many, too many husbands and wives are drifting apart, and sons and daughters are becoming dissatisfied with home, because these social wants are not supplied. Parents have great responsibilities resting upon them, and it is right that the various wants be met in kind sympathy, in watchful, tender care, so that the children will not wish to seek abroad for companionship.