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Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 1
The husband is the head of the family, as Christ is the head of
the church; and any course which the wife may pursue to lessen his
influence and lead him to come down from that dignified, responsible
position is displeasing to God. It is the duty of the wife to yield her
wishes and will to her husband. Both should be yielding, but the Word
of God gives preference to the judgment of the husband. And it will
not detract from the dignity of the wife to yield to him whom she
has chosen to be her counselor, adviser, and protector. The husband
should maintain his position in his family with all meekness, yet with
decision.—
Testimonies for the Church 1:307, 308
(1862).
Man a Social Being—Among all the creatures that God had made
on the earth, there was not one equal to man. And “God said, It is
not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet
for him” (
Genesis 2:18
). Man was not made to dwell in solitude; he
was to be a social being. Without companionship, the beautiful scenes
and delightful employments of Eden would have failed to yield perfect
happiness. Even communion with angels could not have satisfied his
desire for sympathy and companionship. There was none of the same
nature to love and to be loved.—
Patriarchs and Prophets, 46
(1890).
Harmony in Home Possible Only by God’s Spirit—We must
have the Spirit of God, or we can never have harmony in the home.
The wife, if she has the spirit of Christ, will be careful of her words;
she will control her spirit, she will be submissive, and yet will not feel
that she is bondslave, but a companion to her husband. If the husband
is a servant of God, he will not lord it over his wife; he will not be
arbitrary and exacting. We cannot cherish home affection with too
much care; for the home, if the Spirit of the Lord dwells there, is a
type of heaven.—
Letter 18b, 1891
(
The Adventist Home, 118
.)
[162]
The Inner Circle Paramount—All our powers are to be used for
Christ. This is the debt we each owe to God. In forming a relationship
with Christ, the renewed man is but coming back to his appointed
relationship with God. He is a representative of Christ, and he is ever
to pray and watch unto prayer. His duties lie around him, nigh and afar
off. His first duty is to his children and his nearest relatives. Nothing
can excuse him from neglecting the inner circle for the larger circle
outside.
In the day of final reckoning, fathers and mothers will be required
to answer in regard to their children. Parents will be asked what