The Lord Jesus loved the church and in return is loved by the church. It tells us, “We love because He has first loved us” (1 John 4:1919The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. (John 4:19) JND). His love is the stronger love. He loves us far more than we love Him. And so it is that the pattern that is shown us here is that Adam was held responsible. He was called upon to till his garden, but he was also called upon to guard it. How important this is! The husband has that place of responsibility before God to guard his home. Just as there is an enemy who seeks to introduce what is false and what is worldly into the assembly, so there is an enemy who wants to introduce what is false and of the world into our homes. We are to guard our homes and not allow into those homes that which is going to become a source of heartache and sorrow, that which can only result in dishonor to the Lord.
“The Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (vss. 1617). It is important to see that this commandment was given to the man; it was not given to Eve. This is all tied together with the place of responsibility that the husband has in the Christian home. To till it and to guard it are his responsibility as the head of his home, to insure that this home is carried on in a way that is obedient to the Word of God.