The Ultimate Ride: Dangers That Will Destroy Your Family

The Ultimate Ride: Transforming Your Life & Family

“Dangers That Will Destroy Your Family”

Today, we continue our series. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve focused on the things that we must do to transform our families into all that God intends them to be. This is a critical area that we must all focus on if we are to experience the lives that God wants for us. We started the series by talking about leaving a legacy. We then discussed the mistakes we sometimes make.

Over the last three weeks, we’ve focused on the things that we must do correctly in our lives. Today, however, we’re going to talk about the dangers that lurk around every corner as we endeavor to do the right things in life.

Before I share with you some of the dangers that can destroy a family – I’d first like to preface all of these “Dangers” with one Guiding Principle…And it’s this:

“Any sin, if left unchecked, will grow worse and worse!”

II Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

The POINT IS: “Any sin, if left unchecked, will grow worse and worse!” BUT NOTICE the life-changing phrase in this Guiding Principle – “IF left unchecked” SO, today, as your pastor, I want to share with you some of these Dangers that can Damage your family so that you can safeguard yourself and keep your life in-check!

And, as we’ve been doing over the past few weeks, we have a car that illustrates our point. Today, we have a race car. And not just any race car, Jimmie Johnson’s race car. Two-time Nextel Cup champion.

Four Dangers that Will Destroy Your Family

Danger #1 – Disrespect

This occurs when you do not consider your spouse as valuable.

Remember this: You will respect what you value!

You value God – you’ll worship Him.

You value your spouse – you’ll be concerned with his/her emotions.

You should value your spouse – and every life – the way God values them:

Psa. 139:13-18 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.

Notice a few things about this passage:

1. God created every person.

2. God cares about every person.

3. God finds immeasurable joy in reflecting on every person.

So, for you to Disrespect a family member is to devalue a creation of God!

Danger #2 – Apathy

Meaning, we make sure every other “need” in life is addressed and/or repaired immediately, but not our families. In other words, ignoring problem

I mean, if something breaks down, we are quick to respond to it.

For example, if our cell phone breaks or our internet goes out, we are always quick to get on the phone, call customer service and get it fixed.

We do the same thing with car repairs, house repairs, etc . . .

Life is so complex that we miss the important things in our families.

BUT, when it comes to our family, we simply conclude, “Oh, well, there’s not really a problem” OR, “It will fix itself!” Problems then stack up, get out of control and can result in depression.

Ephesians 5:21-25 …submitting to one another in the fear of God. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

The word “submit” connotes the willingness to place oneself under another’s protection. And husbands should have the very love of God so as not to abuse the ones to whom is to protect!

Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. The love of God compels you to provide for them. So today, with God’s help, awaken from your apathy.