The Bible has much to say concerning the dangers of improper family relationships. “There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother” (Proverbs 30:11). “The son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother” (Micah 7:6), “the eye . . . mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother” (Proverbs 30:17). Yet, the first commandment with promise was to “honour thy father and mother” (Ephesians 6:1-2). This honour can be demonstrated by hearkening to (Proverbs 23:22) and obeying one’s parents (Colossians 3:20). As parents seek the Lord’s direction, God will lead them as to how to lead their individual homes (Ezra 8:21). The child’s responsibility is directed toward submitting to and learning of the Lord by obeying the parents.
With all the difficult challenges that a woman faces within the home, it should not be surprising that the Lord repeatedly gave warnings against a woman with a contentious spirit. How does the downward spiral begin? She may spend her life serving others with little to no thanks. She may honour and submit to a husband who deserves little honour or authority. If she does not continually walk with the Lord, she can become disillusioned with the Lord and with her duties as a mother and wife. She might begin to be contentious (Proverbs 21:9; Proverbs 25:24; Proverbs 27:15) causing greater problems in the home, perhaps to the point of causing those she loves to become bitter against her (Colossians 3:19).
As previously discussed, every man desires inner peace. Yet, some individuals know peace while others live a life of unrest and instability. Those who have peace are considered wise as they strive to keep it. Unfortunately, many people who do not understand true peace convince themselves that they possess it already. According to scripture, these are the type of people who walk in the imagination of their own heart. They do things their own way rather than God’s way and claim to experience peace in the process. Claiming peace without possessing it is unsafe, unwise, and certainly unscriptural. Hope in a false peace has destroyed many nations, peoples, homes, and individuals. Sadly, God's people have never been immune to this regrettable deception. In fact, the Lord declared His fury because the prophets and priests dealt falsely (Jeremiah 6:13). How did they deal falsely? They proclaimed, “Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14).
