Be There Part 2 Series

Be There or Be nowhere- Part 2

Thesis: We need to Be There for our families because it is the greatest God given job we have and if we are not there then we are nowhere.

Text: I Timothy 5:8 “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Proverbs 15: 27 “A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live.”

Proverbs 31:10-31

Verse 10 - “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”

Verse 15- “She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family…”

Verse 27- “ She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”

Ephesians 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is right. Honor your father and mother-which is the first commandment with a promise-that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Colossians 3:20 “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”

I Timothy 3:4 talks about an Overseer and his family, “He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.”

I Timothy 3:11, 12 refers to Deacons and their family, “In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.”

Introduction: All of the verses we just read talk about the importance of Being There for our families. The Scriptures referred to parents, grandparents, kids, teens, and even relatives. The Word places strong emphasis on Being There for our families so as to please the Lord. Swindoll states, “ Effective family life does not just happen; it’s the result of deliberate intention, determination, and practice” (13).

When we are there for our families we are promised that God will reward with leadership positions, with blessings, and with long life on the earth. But if we fall into “Spiritual deadness’ as we explored last week we then lose out on all that God has for us.

T.S,- So your sitting there saying “Yes, I want to be there but how?” Lets explore the “How?”

I. So how do we Be There for our families so that they are strong Godly families?

a. Gary Collins tells us how to do this in his book Family Shock: (The following is adapted from his book)

i. Be there and encourage family commitment. Nick Stinnet stated, ”Members of strong families are dedicated to promoting each other’s welfare and happiness. They value the unity of the family and are committed to one another and to the family group” (78).

1. Parents role-model for your kids this trait of family commitment. You keep the family commitment in proper order and demonstrate this to your kids.

a. Put the family commitment above others commitments.

i. Sports

ii. Extra-curricular activity.

iii. Other people

iv. Even church activity

v. Work

b. Teach your kids that family life is a commitment it’s more important than ministry, friends, and other things that may try to pull you apart.

i. I did not say that it’s more important than God. God is to be number one in our lives. Then second is our families. Third is our ministry. And fourth our job.

ii. Attend the kid’s plays, musicals and games.

iii. Be involved in their education.

iv. Do things with your kids and your spouse.

· Go on dates.

v. Make a commitment to be home for dinner every night.

vi. Limit extra curricular activities

· For your kids – teach them balance early in life.

c. Don’t run out on your kid’s.

i. What happens to homes when the father or mother flights and divorce occurs. Colson notes:

· Children in single parent families are six times more likely to be poor.

· Half the single mothers in the United States live below the poverty line.

· Children of divorce suffer intense grief.

· Children from disrupted families have more academic and behavior problems at school and are nearly twice as likely to drop out of school.

· Girls in single homes are at a greater risk for premarital sex and 3 times more likely to have a child out of wedlock.

· Crime and substance abuse are strongly linked to fatherless households.

· Studies show that 60% percent of rapists grew up in fatherless homes, as did 72% of adolescent murders and 70% of all long term prison inmates.

· Preschool children in stepfamilies, are forty times more likely to suffer physical abuse or sexual abuse.