BLUEPRINT FOR HAPPY HOMES
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Blueprint for happy homes
a) As a saying goes, "No nation is stronger than its homes." One Chinese proverb says, "If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation." The family unit is the basic foundation on which human society is built. The fragmentation of our families, however, will prove to be the destruction of our civilization.
b) 4 prevalent attitudes attack our homes today from every side.
@1. Secularism advocates, "Grab for all the gusto you can because you only go around once in life!"
@2. Materialism says, "Get more, buy more, and build more!"
@3. Sensualism joins in by bombarding us with immorality and perversion through the media.
@4. Secular humanism concludes, "Glory to man in the highest - away with deity."
c) No matter what these philosophies claim, they have managed only to erode the family unit. Why? Because they oppose God's blueprint for happy homes. After all, He invented the family. And He has given us His blueprint in the Bible so we can discover what He says to spouses, parents, and children.
d) First of all, the Bible teaches that we are to rest in each other's strength. Ephesians 5:21 NIV says, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Because Christ is the Lord of our family, we should treat each other with respect as He has instructed. We can't have our way all the time, nor can our wives or children. We must seek to do things God's way.
e) Submission is necessary for order and stability. Otherwise, everyone tries to do his or her own thing without any accountability. One hit song boasts, "I did it my way!" Go ahead and do it our way - and see how many people we hurt in the process, including ourselves. Sometimes we have this idea that the man can't show any weakness. He must wear a mask to cover up his true feelings. But that's false!
f) The Bible teaches that the husband is to rely on his wife and she is to rest in him as the spiritual leader of their home. This doesn't mean that either is inferior. Men and women are equal in God's eyes. Paul makes this clear when he say, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28 NIV)
g) God knows the family functions best with a leader. That's why He has designated the man to take the responsibility within the home and exercise it with love. Sometimes our wives are better at making rational decisions than we are. Yet they rests upon their own husbands to make the final choices that must be made in their home. But in turn, the husbands often rely on their counsel and advice. They compliment and support each other.
h) As children see their parents' mutual submission to each other, they more easily respect and obey their father and mother.
@1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise - 3“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." (Ephesians 6:1-3 NIV)
@2. 5And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” 7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:5-11 NIV)
i) God's blueprint for happy homes does make a difference!
2. Prayer focus
a) Pray that we read the Bible and get together as a family each day to learn more about Him in our homes.
The End ...
1. Blueprint for happy homesa) As a saying goes, "No nation is stronger than its homes." One Chinese proverb says, "If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation." The family unit is the basic foundation on which human society is built. The fragmentation of our families, however, will prove to be the destruction of our civilization.
b) 4 prevalent attitudes attack our homes today from every side.
@1. Secularism advocates, "Grab for all the gusto you can because you only go around once in life!"
@2. Materialism says, "Get more, buy more, and build more!"
@3. Sensualism joins in by bombarding us with immorality and perversion through the media.
@4. Secular humanism concludes, "Glory to man in the highest - away with deity."
c) No matter what these philosophies claim, they have managed only to erode the family unit. Why? Because they oppose God's blueprint for happy homes. After all, He invented the family. And He has given us His blueprint in the Bible so we can discover what He says to spouses, parents, and children.
d) First of all, the Bible teaches that we are to rest in each other's strength. Ephesians 5:21 NIV says, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Because Christ is the Lord of our family, we should treat each other with respect as He has instructed. We can't have our way all the time, nor can our wives or children. We must seek to do things God's way.
e) Submission is necessary for order and stability. Otherwise, everyone tries to do his or her own thing without any accountability. One hit song boasts, "I did it my way!" Go ahead and do it our way - and see how many people we hurt in the process, including ourselves. Sometimes we have this idea that the man can't show any weakness. He must wear a mask to cover up his true feelings. But that's false!
f) The Bible teaches that the husband is to rely on his wife and she is to rest in him as the spiritual leader of their home. This doesn't mean that either is inferior. Men and women are equal in God's eyes. Paul makes this clear when he say, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28 NIV)
g) God knows the family functions best with a leader. That's why He has designated the man to take the responsibility within the home and exercise it with love. Sometimes our wives are better at making rational decisions than we are. Yet they rests upon their own husbands to make the final choices that must be made in their home. But in turn, the husbands often rely on their counsel and advice. They compliment and support each other.
h) As children see their parents' mutual submission to each other, they more easily respect and obey their father and mother.
@1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise - 3“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." (Ephesians 6:1-3 NIV)
@2. 5And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” 7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:5-11 NIV)
i) God's blueprint for happy homes does make a difference!
2. Prayer focus
a) Pray that we read the Bible and get together as a family each day to learn more about Him in our homes.
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