HOME IMPROVEMENT SERIES
WHO IS BUILDING YOUR HOME?
PSALM 127:1-2
THERE IS A WORD THAT IS USED TO DESCRIBE THE BROKEN AND SHATTERED HOMES OF TODAY. THAT WORD IS DYSFUNCTIONAL. IF YOU LISTEN CLOSELY YOU WILL HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT DYSFUNCTIONAL HOMES OR DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES. THIS LEAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE ARE HOMES THAT ARE FULLY FUNCTIONAL. THERE HAS ONLY BEEN ONE FULLY FUNCTIONAL HOME IN THE HISTORY OF MAN KIND. THAT HOME WAS ADAM AND EVE’S HOME PRIOR TO THEIR SINFUL DISOBEDIENCE. THEY WERE CREATED AND PLACED IN A PERFECT ENVIRONMENT. EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM WAS PERFECT IN THE BEGINNING. THEN SIN CAME AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE. TO SAY THAT OUR HOMES NEED SOME IMPROVEMENT IS TO SAY THAT EVERYTHING IS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE. WHEN IT COME TO REMODELING A HOUSE THERE ARE FOUR THINGS WE NEED TO REMEMBER.
1. IT TAKES LONGER THAN YOU PLANNED.
2. IT COST MORE THAN YOU FIGURED.
3. IT IS MESSIER THAN YOU ANTICIPATED.
4. IT REQUIRES GREATER DETERMINATION AND MORE PATIENTS THAN YOU EXPECTED.
THIS IS TRUE OF YOUR HOME LIFE AND FAMILY AS WELL. YOU MAKE PLANS TO IMPROVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR SPOUSE AND CHILDREN. IT THE BEGINNING EVERYTHING GOES WELL, BUT THEN SOMEWHERE IN THE PROCESS, YOU REALIZE:
1. IT TAKES LONGER THAN YOU PLANNED.
2. IT COST MORE THAN YOU FIGURED.
3. IT IS MESSIER THAN YOU ANTICIPATED.
4. IT REQUIRES GREATER DETERMINATION AND MORE PATIENTS THAN YOU EXPECTED.
IT’S NOT EASY, BUT WITH THE HELP OF GOD IT CAN BE DONE AND IT WILL BE WORTH IT.
A STRONG HOME LIFE BEGINS WITH A STRONG MARRIED LIFE.
HOW MANY OF YOU HAD A SHOT GUN WEDDING? IN OTHER WORDS YOU WERE FORCED TO MARRY THE PERSON YOU MARRIED. FACT IS MARRIAGE IS A FREEDOM OF CHOICE. IF YOU ARE MARRIED YOU FREELY CHOSE TO MARRY THE PERSON YOU MARRIED. YOU KNEW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT YOU WERE GETTING INTO WHEN YOU MARRIED THAT PERSON. IF YOU ARE NOT MARRIED BUT YOU ARE MAKING PLANS TO GET MARRIED, KNOW THIS, WHO YOU MARRY IS YOUR CHOICE. YOU NEED TO KNOW THE PERSON YOU ARE MARRYING. YOU SHOULD NEVER MARRY SOMEONE HOPING TO CHANGE WHO THEY ARE, ONLY GOD CAN CHANGE A PERSON. HOME IMPROVEMENT WILL NEVER OCCUR A PART FROM GOD. THERE IS MORE TO A HOME THAN THE HOUSE YOU LIVE IN OR THE CAR YOU DRIVE OR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU MAKE. YOU CAN HAVE ALL THIS WORLDS GOODS AND NEVER REALLY HAVE A HOME. A HOME IS A PLACE WERE A FAMILY LIVES TOGETHER IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND EACH OTHER. HOME IMPROVEMENT BEGINS WITH US IMPROVING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. HOME IMPROVEMENT BEGINS WITH GOD. OUR SCRIPTURE SAYS THAT, " EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE,
( HOME ) THEY LABOR IN VAIN THAT BUILD IT. THIS SCRIPTURE REVEALS THAT WE ARE DEPENDENT ON GOD TO BUILD STRONG HOMES. ALL OF US MAKE MISTAKES IN OUR HOME LIVES. WHEN WE DO WE NEED TO GO TO GOD FOR OUR GUIDANCE AND DIRECTIONS. WE NEED HIM TO HELP US TO CLEAN UP THE MESS THAT WE MADE. GOD IS ACTIVE IN HELPING US TO BUILD STRONGER AND BETTER HOMES. LET’S LOOK AT FOUR ACTIVITIES IN WHICH GOD IS INVOLVED IN.
I. BUILDING THE HOUSE.
Psalm 127:1 Except the Lord Build the House, they labor in vain that build it.
YOU NEED A FOUNDATION, WALLS AND A ROOF.
LUKE 6:47-49
A. STABILITY
B. SECURITY
C. SERENITY
All around us we see the results of the breakdown of the family. From the drive-by shootings to moral collapse of the White House. Many of the problems stem from moms and dads that do not take their roles as parents seriously.
Warren Wiersbe writes, "It seems no matter where we look in modern society, we see antagonism, division, and rebellion. Husbands and wives are divorcing each other; children are rebelling against their parents, and employers and employees are seeking for new ways to avoid strikes and keep the machinery of industry running productively. We have tried education, legislation, and every other approach, but nothing seems to work. Paul’s solution to antagonisms in the home and in society was REGENERATION, a new heart from God and a new submission to Christ and to one another. God’s great program is to ’gather together in one all things in Christ.’ Paul indicated that this spiritual harmony begins in the lives of Christians who are submitted to the Lordship of Christ" (Be Wise, p.149).
Christian families are to be different, "set apart" from the world. What unbelievers want to know is "Does Christianity work?" If our faith won’t work at home it won’t work anywhere. Parents, you may not be able to do anything about our national dilemmas, but you can do something about your family, your children.
Marriages and families in our time tend to be war zones and disaster areas. Homes aren’t havens. There is no peace and joy and contentment and bliss. Rather conflict, intimidation, and separation.
II. GUARDING THE HOUSE
Psalm 127:1b Except the Lord keep ( guard ) the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
My soul waits in silence for God only;
From Him is my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. (Ps. 62:1-2)
A. ATTACKS FROM THE OUT SIDE.
B. ATTACKS FROM THE INSIDE.
III. PROVIDES FOR THE HOUSE.
Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so giveth His Beloved sleep.
This scripture does not promote laziness. It is a rebuke to the workaholic.
"Daddy, how much do you make an hour?" With a timid voice and idolizing eyes, the little boy greeted his father as he returned from work.
Greatly surprised, but giving his boy a glaring look, the father said, "Look, Sonny, not even your mother knows that. Don’t bother me now. I’m tired."
"But Daddy, just tell me please! How much do you make an hour," the boy insisted?
The father, finally giving up, replied: "Ten dollars per hour."
"Okay, Daddy. Could you lend me two dollars?" the boy asked.
Angry with his son’s constant pestering, he said, "Go to sleep and don’t bother me anymore."
It was already dark, and the father was feeling guilty for what he said. Maybe, he thought, his son needed to buy something for school. Finally, trying to ease his mind. The father went to his son’s room. "Are you asleep, son?" asked the father.
"No, Daddy. Why?" replied the boy, partially a sleep. "Here’s the money you asked for earlier," the father said.
"Thanks, Daddy!" rejoiced the son, while putting his hand under his pillow and removing some money. "Now I have enough! Now I have ten dollars!" The father gazed at his son, confused by the meaning of what he had just said, when the boy continued, "Daddy, could you sell me one hour of your time, please?"
To often today the parents are so busy trying to make a living for the family that they forget about the family as a whole. There are times that we need to push our busy schedule aside and make time to spend with each other. I know parents that work 6 to 7 days a week, any where from 8 - 12 hours a day. They never have time for the other members of the family. We may work ourselves to death in order to buy our family all the earthly goods this world has to offer. There are some things that money can’t buy. Let’s look at some of the things that money can’t buy.
A. Money Can’t Buy Love
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we where yet sinners, Christ died for us.
I want you to look at the word sinners. The word sin means to miss the mark, therefore a sinner is anyone who misses the mark. There will be times that some of us will miss the mark in our home. We may not all ways do what our spouse or children want or like. Nor will they always do the things that I like or please me. As I said in last weeks message. There will be times that we say things and do things that we don’t mean. Things that hurt and wound. Love says I will keep on loving you anyway. Nothing you say or do will ever keep me from loving you.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Love is more than a feeling. Love is a choice and action. There will be time when you will feel like you don’t love your spouse and sometime even your children. But we do.
Our families need love. We need to spend time nurturing unconditional love. I have been told more than once by children that they have everything that money can by. They told me that they would trade all of it just to be loved.
B. Money Can’t Buy Acceptance
Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.
All of us want to be accepted. When we feel that we are being rejected and pushed to the side it hurts. We feel unwanted and unloved. We feel like no one cares for us. When we are accepted, we since of belonging. I am a part of something that accepts me, loves me and cares for me.
C. Money Can’t Buy Support or Encouragement
John 14:16&18 And I will pray the Father, and He shall Give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever. 18. I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you.
All of us at some time or another need the loving support of family member. Someone that we can go to with our problems. Someone I can share my pain with, without being criticized. Someone that will lend us a shoulder to lean on or cry on if necessary.
D. Money Can’t Buy Forgiveness
Ephesian 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tender- hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Forgiveness is something that we all need. If we stay together long enough we will do something that will hurt or offend one another at times.
God gives us all of theses things. God gives us love, acceptance, support, encouragement, and forgiveness. If we will trust God and rely upon Him, He will give us the strength and courage to give all of this to our families. When we give and receive love, acceptance, support, encouragement, and forgiveness, our homes will have stability, Security and serenity.
IV. HERITAGE FOR THE HOUSE.
Psalm 127:3-4 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate
God give us children to bring joy, happiness and laughter into our lives. I remember when each of my children were born, It was a day of great joy. Over the years they have brought a lot of happiness and laughter to our home. However over the years as the children begin to grow they can be the source of great pain and heartache. Many times it is because we as parents have failed to raise and train our children properly. We were either to strict or to easy on them. When one parent tries to discipline the child the other parent steps in and takes up for the child. If you disagree with the way your spouse is disciplining the child take it up with him/her in private, not in front of the children. Some parents however refuse to discipline their children at all. I believe that we as parents are mostly responsible for how our children turn out in life. We need to nuttier and develop our children in a Godly and biblical manner.
Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and Man.
This scripture reveals four areas in which children need to develop. Luke 2:52, "Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, favor with God and man."
Wisdom, that’s mentally.
Stature, that’s physically.
Favor with God, that’s spiritually.
And man, that’s socially.
Mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially, these are the four areas in which children need development. When they come into the world they are undeveloped. It is up to you and I as parents to develop our children in these four areas. If we don’t they will never reach their full potential.
A. In order to grow mentally our children need instructions and guidelines on how to live their lives.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
B. In order for our children to grow in stature They Need to know that their bodies are the Temple of God.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
C. For our children to grow in Spiritually They need to learn to live in away that is pleasing to God.
Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
They are not going to do this if they are not developing a relationship with God through Worship, Prayer and bible study.
D. For our children to grow Socially They need to learn to respect others.
Eph. 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
If our children don’t honor and respect their parents they will not honor and respect anyone else.
Conclusion: Who is building your Home? Is it you or God? If God is not building your home then all of your work is in vain. We can not properly care For and provide for our home without God being in it.
Let me tell you a story in closing: An extra large man stepped onto a public scale. He did not know that the scale was out of order. He put in his money and the indicator went up to 75 pounds. As he stood there on the scale a little boy and his mother walked by. The young boy seeing the scale looked up at his mom and said, " Look, mom! That man is hollow or as we would say is empty. "
Hollow is a word that unfortunately describes many homes in our world today. Maybe that is the way you fill your home is. Is your home hollow? Is it empty? Well today God can build and fill your empty home if you will ask Him to.
E-mail jomooney@bellsouth.net
