Home Sweet Home
Today’s Verse:
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. ~Psalm 127:1
Starting at an early age, people take an interest in building things. Little boys have a keen interest in Lego building sets, and how to make something out of those Lego pieces. As they become young men, some take an interest in construction and building homes. They learn that blueprints and detailed plans must be drawn up. They learn that building a home is laborious. This morning, we are looking at a passage of Scripture that exhorts us on how to build our homes: not the physical structure itself, but home in the sense of our marriage and children we are raising. Let us see this morning what makes for a “home, sweet home.”
A happy home is where there is a Foundation.
“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” In order to have a happy home, it must be built on the Lord. Just as a secure foundation is essential for a physical home, a happy home must be built on the Lord. It is a home where the motto is that of Joshua’s: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” It is a place where the Bible is read and upheld. It is a place where prayer is made to God frequently. Without the Lord, our homes are in perilous danger.
A happy home is where there is faith.
Faith is believing and trusting in God for our direction and outcome. Faith in a home begins as it did for Noah and his family: where our goal is to have every member of the family have a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We must strive for a balanced faith. “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” We can become workaholics, and become so committed to being accomplished students that we neglect our walk with God. We can become so overbalanced trying to be successful that we do it the detriment of our spiritual welfare and of our family members. We can fall into the materialism trap, and work for things instead of working for the glory of God. Let the faith in your home be real and strong.
A happy home is where there is family.
“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.” The greatest testimony a man and his wife leave as a legacy are the children that are born to them. Be responsible with your family. Your children are only at every age once in their life. Enjoy and savor each year of their life. Raise them in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. Teach them to love and respect you, and you will have minimum regrets. Redeem the time you have with your children. Vacations should be planned and looked forward to. Have projects that you do together. Have many fun and happy memories of being together. Be a family! Don’t be multiple people living under one roof, doing your own thing.
A happy home is where there is a future.
Children are an heritage of the Lord. What we instill in our children today determines what tomorrow will be like. We must invest in the lives of our children and grandchildren. When Elisha picked up the mantle of Elijah, he was ready to assume the responsibilities of the office of prophet. Elijah spent the ten previous years preparing Elisha for the day he would be replaced. Aim your children in a direction as a man aims his arrows at a target. What you aim for is what you hit. Unless we let the Lord build our homes, we will labor in vain. Let God build your home in all matters, so that your home will be “home, sweet home.”
Have a fortified God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Proverbs 27-29