The Value Of Family Series

The Value of Family

Text: Genesis 2:18,24

Introduction:

Many forces are working to change the family values. Many voices are telling us that the family is finished and out of date. The tell us that the family is irrelevant, a thing of the past.

In Television series we rarely see a normal and happy family portrayed. Family values have been attacked and ridiculed by those that do not believe in Biblical Godly Values. The world has tried to redefine the family and its value. In order for the Christian to know what a family is for and what family values should be portrayed we need to look to the Word of God.

What does the Bible have to say about the family? Let's start at the very beginning when God made Adam and Eve, the very beginning of family creation. In the first book of the Bible we have the beginning of the manual concerning family.

Genesis 2:18, 24, "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.' Therefore a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife."

Please notice two things: First, the family was God's idea. He instituted the family, so it will always be around because families are the building blocks of society. Second, God made Adam, put him in a perfect environment. Adam had everything he wanted and yet God said, "It is not good for man to be alone." That's true whether you're married or single. People were made to associate with other people. We need relationships. Whether you are married or single, you need some deep relationships and caring people in your life. Man was not made to be alone, so God created the family. Then He looked and said, "Now its good."

A family is to be a shelter in times of storms. We all have storms in life because sometimes life get tough. We experience the rain and the dark storms. We didn't plan these storms. In the storm, we need a place of protection and security. We need a place to call home and a family that loves us and cares for us in spite of our short comings and failures.

Proverbs 14:26, "Reverence for the Lord gives a man deep strength; his children have a place of refuge and security."

Circle the words, "refuge and security". Do your children have a place of refuge and security? The Bible says that God created the family to be a shelter in storms. There are many kinds of storms that a family may face. Let's consider three of these storms.

1. Change is a storm. We go through changes in life. We have illnesses, deaths, graduations, jobs, moving to a new location. But there needs to be a place that no matter where the house is, there is a family in it that I know can be counted on for support when these changes come. We need a shelter in the storm.

2. Failure is a storm. We are not always a winner in life. Sometimes we lose. Perhaps a promotion might be turned down. Maybe we get a "F" at school or we get turned down to play on a team. Bankruptcy could be in our plate. There are many different types of storms that may come in our lives. We can handle a lot of failure in life if we can come home to hugs and encouraging words. These will help us to handle the storms in our life.

Family members are fans even when you have a losing season. A family is a shelter in times of storms.

Eccl. 4: 9-10, "Two are better than one. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it's just too bad because there's no one to help him."

3. Rejection is a storm. This is probably the most difficult storm to handle of all the storms. We dislike being rejected, put down, ridiculed or criticized. Some of the most difficult rejection in growing up was on the school playground. Sometimes kids are cruel. If you don't believe in a sin nature, just become a school teacher. Sometimes kids can be absolutely ruthless.

When we play games in life most of the goals is to get home, because when you're home you are safe. Homes were meant for safety. They are a shelter in a storm. It's safe to cry at home. That's what homes are for. They are shelter in the storm where you can let down and be consoled and comforted and cared for. When one goes through rejection a shelter is necessary. It is needful to have somebody who cares for you and will listen to you.