“…They made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.”
Song of Solomon 1:6
The sad scenario outlined in this verse of scripture applies to a lot of Christians who are actively engaged in the expansion of God’s kingdom on earth. They get so consumed with service to God and others that they neglect their own families. They preach the gospel to the world but fail to bring up their own families in the ways of God. This was the case with Eli, Samuel and David. They led God’s people but neglected their own house-holds, and the result of their neglected own households, and result of their neglect had tragic consequences for their families (1st Samuel 2:12-36, 1st Samuel 8:1-6, 2nd Samuel 13&15).

It is true that the Lord gave us the Great Commission to reach out to the whole world with the message of the gospel, but He also gave us the method we should apply to execute this mandate, saying in Acts 1:8:
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Take note of the order He wants us to follow: first Jerusalem, then Judea, followed by Samaria and finally to the uttermost part of the earth. He further said in Luke 24:47:
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
In other words, you are to begin from your immediate community; that is, those closest to you. When we do not follow divine order, we are bound to run into problems. For those who are saved, your household is your Jerusalem. The Great Commission must begin in our homes. It is disheartening to see children of committed Christians going wayward and doing abominable things like the children of Eli and Samuel. We must work on our children with the message of the gospel from when they are very young, during their formative years. The Holy Spirit did not mince words when He said in Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Learn from Philip’s example in Acts 21:8-9. He was an evangelist who brought up his daughters in the ways of the Lord. I pray that God will help you to do the needful and produce godly seeds in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.