the Lord.’ (1 Cor. 7:39) One cannot disregard this divine command and expect to have Jehovah’s pleasure. Parents, yours is a heavy responsibility to guide your children in the right way, with a view to marriage that is both honorable and Scripturally sound.

21. Why may the Christian congregation rightly expect good examples from Christian fathers?

²¹ Also, when commenting on Christian fathers who would qualify to be overseers and ministerial assistants, Paul wrote Timothy: He must be “a man presiding over his own household in a fine manner, having children in subjection with all seriousness; (if indeed any man does not know how to preside over his own household, how will he take care of God’s congregation?) “ (1 Tim. 3:1-7) The Christian congregation can therefore rightly expect good family examples from overseers and ministerial assistants. Christian fathers failing to provide such examples could hardly be expected to be retained in positions of oversight.

Role of Wife and Children in a Happy Family

1. How can the Christian wife contribute much to the happiness of the family circle?

WHO is it that works so closely with the family head in making the family circle a happy arrangement? Who is it that shares this responsibility and privilege? It was Solomon who said: “Has one found a good wife? One has found a good thing.” (Prov. 18:22) How true those words are! Very often in the background and perhaps even unnoticed there is the good wife who is a great source of inspiration to the successful family head. Just how great can the wife’s contribution be to the happiness of the family circle? While we have already discussed the role of the parents at some length, here are some additional points for wives to consider in this respect. First of all, husbands and wives should work as one, think as one, and thus present an unbeatable combination. It is God’s arrangement. (Matt. 19:5) A good wife acts as a complement to her husband and will concur in his decisions, and, in turn, a good husband will want to consult his wife on family matters, that peace and harmony might prevail.

2. What is vital to keep the family circle a balanced arrangement?

² The apostle Paul comments on this marvelous arrangement for the two primary ones in the family circle when he says: “Let wives be in subjection to their husbands as to the Lord, because a husband is head of his wife as the Christ also is head of the congregation, he being a savior of this body. In fact, as the congregation is in subjection to the Christ, so let wives also be to their husbands in everything.” (Eph. 5:22-25) This is a balanced arrangement, and only when it gets out of balance will there be unhappiness and lack of success. For example, note the counsel in Eph 5 verse 22, that wives should be in subjection to their husbands as to the Lord because the husband is the head of his wife. This principle should govern a wife’s view of her husband when it comes to family decisions.

3. How can the husband’s position in the family circle be considerably weakened?

³ In this regard, if the husband and wife argue before the children, as to who should make decisions and direct matters, it will certainly weaken the structure of the family circle. The husband’s position will be weakened to the point where the children can successfully play the father against the mother. Disagreement will result and the children will learn to disrespect both the father and the mother Rather, when there is agreement as to what family policy is to be instituted, a unified, unpenetrable front will be presented that the children will learn to respect—Col. 3:18, 19.

4. What observations on the woman’s role did one authority make?

⁴ Further, many authorities recognize the subservient role of the wife and the helpful position she can occupy toward her husband. Notice what one woman psychologist said recently: “I am a woman, hence my chief interest is men. And because I am also a psychologist, my interest in men is greater than it otherwise would be. Recently the National Management Association asked me to do some research on the different psychological factors of both men and women. It hoped that what I learned might point to ways of reducing the pressures which develop when men and women work together. I saw emerge these two truths: 1. All women like to work under a ceiling of authority. In short, they like to be bossed. 2. All women must feel that they are needed. These truths arise from the fact that, basically, women feel while men think. Women frequently measure up to men and surpass them in intelligence, but they are handicapped by the weight of emotional drag. Men have more practical minds; they can judge, organize, direct. Thus the supervision of women by men seems to be nature’s plan, however desperately women may fight it.” What this authority refers to as nature’s plan we recognize as God’s purpose. How wholesome an arrangement it is and how well it works for happy family circles!

5. What tribute does the account at Proverbs 31 give to good wives?

⁵ Finally, God’s Word gives a deserving tribute to good wives: “Her mouth she has opened in wisdom, and the law of loving-kindness is upon her tongue. She is watching over the goings on of her household, and the bread of laziness she does not eat. Her sons have risen up and proceeded to pronounce her happy; her owner rises up, and he praises her. There are many daughters that have shown capableness, but you—you have ascended above them all. Charm may be false, and prettiness may be vain; but the woman that fears Jehovah is the one that procures praise for herself. Give her of the fruitage of her hands, and let her works praise her even in the gates.” (Prov. 31:26-31) Yes, a good wife can work wonders to promote happiness in a family circle.—Prov. 12:4.

6. What blessings lie in store for obedient children trained by God-fearing parents?

⁶ And now we come to the third element in the family circle, the children. A glorious future lies in store for children trained by God-fearing parents who practice Bible principles. Such children know what the future holds. Theirs is a vision of the new world. (Rev. 21:1-5) Their alert and retentive minds are capable of grasping the full significance of what the present world conditions mean. Indeed, they know that