Scripture is clear that healthy family relationships are important to living not only a longer life but also a better life. It turns out that family is even more important than friends or even spouses for increasing the odds of a longer life well lived.
“Social relationships really do matter,” said lead researcher James Iveniuk, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Toronto School of Public Health for the study that uncovered this truth.
While the study also found healthy marriage and close friends to also be important for longevity, it found that stable families can almost double life expectancy, and this bears out the truth of the first commandment with a promise attached, namely to honor your father and mother that it may be well in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
When the Lord created mankind, He created them to be social, this is why He said it not good for man to be alone but this is not limited to the relationship we have with our spouses as we were meant to have relationships with our parents, children and siblings too and then we are to be apart of a church community where we should have friends.
We should be working to cultivate these relationships starting with our parents. If we would obey God and give our parents the honor He commands they would feel respected and needed, we would work to make them apart of our lives until they go home to be with the Lord.
There is a reason also why fathers are commanded not exasperate their children either, even as men are tasked to show leadership to their children we can sometimes take it too far when what we need is balance.
Parents are to nurture their kids but still challenge them with the truth of God’s word. We are to train them up with truth but also with encouragement, disciple as needed but being compassionate as well. We should seek to be a part of their lives in as many ways as we can to create a strong and godly family that will endure many generations.
The same is true for our siblings and extended family. While our brothers and sisters can be the most difficult people in our lives they can also be the most important people too. That is why forgiveness for our brothers and sisters is discussed so often by Jesus, we need always strive to reconcile and strengthen the relationships we have with our siblings.
Family is not easy but as you may know nothing worthwhile ever is easy. These relationships take work but they are worth the effort and pay dividends for our health and well-being.
Do you have family that you need to reach out to because of a squabble or disagreement? Are you difficult with your parents or your children? Seek to have the heart of God and be a peacemaker and reconcile those relationships for your own sake as well as theirs.
