Help Me @ Home!

HELP ME @ HOME

JOSHUA 24:14-15

INTRODUCTION… Every house is different (various websites, unsubstantiated)

Traditionally, in the Philippines family is regarded as the highest priority which is why there are no overcrowded orphanages or homes for the elderly.

Traditionally, at a wedding reception in Denmark it is normal for the groom to disappear during part of the ceremony so that all the unmarried young men can kiss the bride and then it is the bride’s turn to disappear while all the single girls kiss the groom.

Traditionally, in Hungary at New Year’s Eve, the people burn a scapegoat known as”Jack Straw.”. The scapegoat represents the evils and misfortunes of the past year. Burning the effigy is supposed to get rid of the bad luck.

Traditionally, when in someone’s home in Japan, it is common for you to remove your shoes and wear slippers. The same is to be done when you are going to the bathroom as there are usually a pair of slippers specifically for the toilet area that must stay there at all times. Remove your first pair of slippers, and slide into the second pair.

Perhaps you have met folks with strange or unusual customs:

My roommate in college had a strange family tradition at his house. The biggest event of the year, eclipsing Christmas and Thanksgiving, was Ground Hogs Day. There was a huge cookout and all the family gathered… to watch Ohio State and to gather as a family.

Many families have different traditions and customs because each family is different and every culture is different. However, no matter how different we are, one thing binds us together (especially those of us here today)… and that is Jesus Christ. We looked at a verse last week and it tells us that we, who are Christians, are all bound together by Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body -- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

* I hope you have a desire, no matter the traditions or culture or customs of your family, to have a household that is firm in Christ and whose foundation is God.

* I hope that you have a desire to have a marriage that honors God.

* I hope that you have a desire to raise children and grandchildren that love the Lord and will serve Him

* I hope that you seek to honor God with your money and possessions.

Today we are going to look at a passage that offers help in our homes. What does a Godly home look like? What does God’s Word say about our homes and what help does God bring to us?

The passage that we will look at today gives us solid commands that we can follow to build our homes and lives upon God. The passage is in Joshua 24 which comes at the every end of the book of Joshua. Joshua the son of Nun has been the leader of the people of God after Moses and has led the Israelites into the Promised Land. They have received the promises that were given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And now Joshua is ending his time as the leader and is giving them commands about their lives in this new land given to them by God. All the people are standing before him and he is giving them his final address. Joshua wants so much for the people of God to BE the people of God. Joshua wants so much for God to be the firm foundation of their lives. Let’s read just a few verses from his address.

READ JOSHUA 24:14-15

“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Joshua has much to say to the Israelites and much to say to us. So what help does Joshua offer us for our homes?

I. FEAR THE LORD AND SERVE HIM WITH ALL FAITHFULNESS (verse 14)

Joshua’s first statement to the Israelites is packed full of meaning and probably could be a whole sermon in and of itself. What does Joshua begin with when speaking to the people about their lives? Joshua begins at the beginning with their treatment and understanding of God. A great help for your home is a correct view of God.

To fear the Lord, is where we all should start. The word fear (yare’ in Hebrew) (yaw-ray) is a word that means to fear, to revere, and to be afraid. Over and over in Scripture we are commanded to fear God and respect Him above all others. Leviticus 25:17 commands, “Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God.” Psalm 147:11 says plainly, “the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Proverbs 1:7 explains to us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Acts 9:31 describes for us, “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.”