If the only thing you have in common with someone you call family is that both of you stay in the same house, or came out of the same womb, then you’re basically fooling around. If you go on to build your life that way, don’t complain when you’re ruined. You only have yourself to blame when you have nothing to leave behind at the end of your life.

I have two powerful role models who built their families on the basis of God’s word: Abraham and my biological father, Livinus Ashiegbu. Not surprising, Abraham is my father’s hero. My dad patterned his life after Abraham. He always said he wanted to be the Abraham of his generation. He wanted to be like Abraham, because Abraham was known as a friend of God. My father longed to be identified with God just like Abraham. Interestingly, today when folks meet and interact with my biological dad, the one biblical character that comes to their mind is Abraham.

Abraham was a great father. He was called the father of many nations. In fact, he happens to be the only person in heaven that is also called a father. So he’s someone to emulate, if you want to build a solid home and leave a legacy that continues to endure. He built the greatest family that ever was.

“Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
~Genesis 18:18-19

The basis for Abraham’s family was the way of the Lord. God revealed to Abraham His ways, His truth, His identity, and His principles. God made sure that in His walk with Abraham, Abraham became established in the truth. He understood God and His ways. Then God said, ‘Now he is ready to start a family, because I know that he will direct his children to keep my ways.’

In the same manner, I strive to direct both my spiritual and biological children to keep the way of the Lord. You should do likewise as a child of God.