Series: How to Have a Happy and Healthy Family
Scripture: Psalm 127
Sermon: "What God Can Do for Your Family"
(ILL: Dorothy in Wizard of Oz, "There’s no place like home) And she’s right. There’s no place like home, when it is happy and healthy. A happy and healthy home is one of the best places on earth, while an unhappy and unhealthy home is one of the most miserable places. So how can we have a happy and healthy home? We’re going to take the next several Sundays and answer that question straight from the Bible.
There are several steps we must take and turning to God is the first step. Somebody says, "Preacher, what can God do for my family?" That’s a good question and Psalm 127 gives a good answer.
I believe this psalm was written by David to his son Solomon. David gives his son some godly advice on starting a family. He mentions 4 things God can do for any family who turns to Him.
What can God do for my family?
I. God Can Help Me BUILD My Family.
"Unless the Lord builds the house . . ." (v. 1, NIV) David isn’t talking about constructing a shelter. He’s talking about establishing a family. David is saying, in effect, "God can help you BUILD your family."
". . . it’s builders labor in vain" (v. 1, NIV). In other words, if you want a home that will last and survive, then you’d better turn to the master home-builder: God Himself. God invented the family. He knows what will work and what won’t work. He can help fix whatever problem your family encounters. It’s like this:
A story is told of Henry Ford. One day he and his wife were driving in the country and they came across a man whose Model T had broken down. He was under the hood trying to figure out what was wrong, when Mr. Ford asked if he could take a look. And in just a few mintues, Mr. Ford had the Model T running. The owner was amazed and said, "I’m impressed with your knowledge of Model T’s, and I’m amazed that you fixed it so easily." Mr. Ford replied, "I ought to be able to fix it because I’m the one who DESIGNED it." And dear people, that’s how it is with God and the family. God says, "I can fix it because I designed it!."
Somebody says, "Rick, that’s nice to know but tell me how God can help me build my family."
God isn’t going to wave His hand over you and your spouse and supernaturally transform the two of you into Ward and June Cleaver. Nor will He wave His hand over your children and change them into the Brady kids. God doesn’t work that way. Instead, He gives you the necessary instructions and tools and says, "Here’s what you need. Get to work. I’ll help you every step of the way."
Where are those instructions? They are revealed in the Bible. The Bible is best marriage manual and child rearing manual on the market. It has withstood the test of time and it has millions of satisfied customers. So you’d be wise to heed what it says about the family and put it into practice (ILL: The wise man who built his house on the rock).
Be wise!! Make a commitment to listen to what God says about the family and ask Him to help you put it into practice. Follow His instructions and He will help you BUILD your family.
II. God Can Help Me PROTECT My Family.
"Unless the Lord watches over the city . . ." (v. 1, NIV)
What is a city? It’s a group of families who live close together. And the word "watches" means to guard, protect, and save lives. So David is saying, in effect, "God can help you PROTECT your family."
The family needs protection in today’s world (ILL: the ADT commercial where a burgular is trying to break into a home and oldest daughter pushes the panic button and frightens the burgular away). Not only does your family need protection from burglars and prowlers, it also needs protection from evil spiritual forces. You see, the Devil and his demons would love nothing more than to break up and destroy your family. And what are some of the weapons they use against the family?
A. Alcohol.
The bottle is a cold blooded killer. It kills lives. It kills marriages. It kills families.
If you have booze in your house, then you are housing a cold-blooded killer! In fact, you better off having Charles Manson as a house guest. At least he’d be quick about it - while the bottle takes it’s time in killing your family.
Moms and Dads, do you know what drinking parents produce? Drinking kids. If you can stay away from booze, then you more than triple your child’s chances of staying away from that poison. And God can protect your family by helping you you stay away from it.
B. Adultery.
There is only one sin that can break the marriage bond in the eyes of God - and that is the sin of adultery. The devil and his demons will do everything they can to get you to be unfaithful to your spouse. But God can protect your family by helping you be faithful and committed to your mate.
C. An Attitude of Selfishness.
This is Satan’s most successful weapon against the home. This "me first" mentality destroys the home from within. God can protect your family by helping you develop a Christ-like attitude: an attitude that puts the needs of your mate and your children before you own.
God can help you protect your family - if you’ll just make a commitment to follow Him and obey His word.
III. God Can Help Me PROVIDE for My Family.
Do you know how God provides for your family? He doesn’t send food down from heaven like He did for the Israelites so long ago. Instead, He provides through good old fashioned work. He tells us to provide for our families by earning a good honest living.
Verse 2 describes two types of fathers who try to provide for their families. The first father can’t sleep at night because he isn’t content with what he has. He works long hours in order to provide his family with the luxuries of life. The second father can sleep at night, not because he’s lazy, but because he’s content with what he has. He works in order to provide his family with the necessities of life - and he’s content with that.
Moms and Dads, we need to learn the difference between luxuries and necessities. Children don’t need lots of toys, designer clothes, and swimming pools. Those things are luxuries. Children need a roof over their head, food on their table, and clothes on their back. They need your attention, your affection, your guidance, and your good example. They need to be disciplined in love. They need to know that they are important to you, that you love them, and you enjoy spending time with them. Those are necessities.
If you can provide both the luxuries and necessities - then more power to you. But most parents have to make a choice. Don’t be like the first father mentioned in verse 2. Be like the second father and provide what your children NEED instead of what they WANT. And you will find contentment and peace of mind.
IV. God Can Help Me RAISE My Family.
Verse 3 describes the value of children . . .
They are a heritage, not a hindrance; a blessing, not a burden. Dear people, there is no such thing as an unwanted child - only unfit parents.
The feminist movement says, "Children will cramp your style. They’ll keep you from pursuing your career and being somebody."
And a lot of men argue, "Children are too expensive. If I have children, then I might not be able to drive the kind of car I want to, or live in the kind of house I want to, or take the kind of vacations I want to. After all, children make a rich man poor." Wait a second sir. You have it backwards. Children don’t make a rich man poor. They make a poor man rich! You can’t take any of your money to heaven, but you can take all of your children to heaven - if you’ll lead them to Jesus. That’s the value of children.
Verses 4 and 5 describe the values of children.
Somebody asks, "When should I start teaching values to my child?" When they are young and impressionable. Verse 4 gives a good analogy. When does a warrior influence his arrow the most? After he’s shot it? No. When he holds it in his hand. The best time to start teaching your child godly values is while they are very young - while they’ll still very impressionable.
Somebody else asks, "What’s the best way to teach values to my children?" The best way to teach your child is by a godly example. Teach your child the Bible with your lips and back it up with your life - and it will make an impression on their young hearts.
Moms and Dads, what about you?
If you’re lost, I want you to know that these principles can help you build a happy and healthy home, but they won’t get you into Heaven. Only a person relationship with Jesus can do that. So before you focus on building a happy and healthy home, you need to give your heart and life to Jesus. If the Holy Spirit is convicting you and you’re ready to say "Yes" to Jesus, then please pray this prayer, "Dear Lord, I admit I’m a sinner and I need to be saved. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead in order to pay for my sins and purchase for me a home in Heaven. And I commit everything I have to Him and I want to live for Him every single day of my life."
If you’re saved, I want you to pray this prayer, "Dear Lord, I love my family and I need you to help my family. I put you first in my life and I ask you to help me build, protect, provide, and raise my family".
References:
1) All Scripture references are from the NIV
2) Parts of this sermon were gleaned from a message preached by Adrian Rogers entitled, "The Home on the Rock"
