Building a Godly Home

(Sermons, List 3)

Text:  Proverbs 2:1-8.

“My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.”

Introduction

This sermon is entitled  "Building A Godly Home."  If your home is not a godly one, perhaps the words of my text can help in guiding you towards making it so. The best place to start, of course, is by making sure your relationship with God is correct. (John 3:7). Allow Jesus Christ to be both your Savior and your Lord.  If Christ is not your Lord it would seem unreasonable to expect your example to help make Him Lord in the lives of your family members.

LORD

Are you aware of what it means for Jesus Christ to be your Lord? He must be in charge of your life. Your primary goal must involve serving Him - as He directs - you through His Word and through the witness of the Holy Spirit.

Of course, you must make new choices everyday, but they should be guided by what you know God expects from those who claim to be His. So make sure you are submitted to Him first. Then seek wisdom, seek knowledge, and seek understanding as if you really wanted to receive them. They can be found by those who ‘receive’ His words and ‘treasure’ His commands. When you have found them, encourage each member of your family to seek them too.

Text again

Now let's look at verses 1 through 6 again, to remind us what they say about the promise: “My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. 6. For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding”

Verse 1

The promise is to those who receive God's words and treasure His commands. Verse one names those conditions. The promise is not for the lazy or the shiftless; it must be sought diligently. Only then can you begin to understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. So incline your ear to wisdom, apply your heart to understanding, cry out for discernment, lift up your voice for understanding, seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures.  

When you begin receiving guidance from God’s Word on a regular basis it should not be difficult for you to build a Godly home if, in fact, you actually want one. Godly homes don’t just happen. Like fruitful gardens, they must receive watchful care after their initial planting. Fertilization and cultivation can help a lot.

Help your family

As stated in verses seven through fifteen, of Proverbs, Chapter Two, the fear of the LORD generates discretion that can preserve you, and understanding that can keep you in order to deliver you from the way of evil. Even so, each of your family members needs to receive God’s guidance too, not only from their personal study of His Word but also from your teaching. Be sure you are properly equipped to teach them at home. When you teach, make opportunities for your family to worship God together with you. Study the Word for your own spiritual welfare too. It will help to keep you on the right path and establish a basis for teaching your family.

Methods

A.  There are several ways for families to study the Word together, just as there are several ways for doing so separately. One method involves memorization. 

       1.  David called memorizing Scripture “hiding God's Word” in his heart. It increased His respect for God and taught him to obey God's commands. (Psalm 119:11).

             There are many Scripture passages that every Christian should be able to quote verbatim. You might be surprised to discover how much they can help you, as you experience trying situations of your own and when you need to comfort other people in their trials.

Examples

1.  Consider the six verses of Psalm 23. How many times, do you suppose, have they comforted believers down through the years. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will ^£dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.”

2.  Another favorite is found in the Book of Isaiah. It says, of God, “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on you Because he trusts in you.”  (Isaiah 26:3). Psalm 91 brings a greater understanding of God’s “perfect peace,” relating it to the safety afforded those who “dwell in the secret place of the Most High,” and “abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

Study Psalm 91 and memorize it if you can: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the ^£fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers,        And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; ¹¹     For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

3.  It’s good to know exactly what the Bible says, and where it says it, especially when you face a problem the Word addresses. For instance, you need not wonder about the need to abstain from sinful practices. 2 Corinthians 6:17 says simply and plainly, “come out from among them” (the worldly) and “be ye separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” 1st Thessalonians 5:22 adds, “Abstain from every form of evil.” Consider this word to the wise: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Learn, too, from Moses, who believed it better to forgo “the pleasures of sin for a season,” even when his choice required him to “suffer affliction with the people of God.” (Hebrews 11:25). Moses had insight concerning the future. He esteemed “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” (Hebrews 11:26). Be like him and receive a similar award. Psalm 16:11 describes it: “You will show me the path of life; In your presence is fullness of joy; At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

            2.  Another study method involves meditation. God told the Hebrews to work at learning and understanding His Commands: "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Josh. 1:8).

When you read something in the Bible that seems especially important to you, stop and think about it.  Turn it over and over in your mind until it gets hold of you. Then share it with your family, or with someone else who may need to hear it. That may be exactly why God impressed it on your heart.

            3.  A third study method involves the use of a family altar. Are you familiar with them?  It’s an old term, one seldom used today. A family altar is any place a family chooses to spend time together in discussing God's Word and praying for the family's needs.

Some families read the Bible together systematically during their family altar time, some use a daily devotional guide based on Scripture. Others might share notes they took from a sermon and share their ideas as to what God said to them through the preacher. The intent is to get together with your family around God's throne every day, where all of you can learn to know Him and serve Him.

I like the idea of taking notes on sermons at church. It can help in keeping the audience awake mentally so they actually hear what is being said. It can also help them digest the Word later, when they rehash the notes with other people. Those who actually do it may pick up on ideas the preacher didn't mention.

Pray

Don't neglect prayer time at your family altar sessions. Encourage everyone to participate. Praying aloud in groups emphasizes the fact that God is our mutual Heavenly Father. He loves all of us.  We are all important to Him, regardless of age or social standing.  He is concerned about your needs and mine. 

Prayers at the family altar need not be elaborate.  God is aware of your needs (Isaiah 65:24). The prayers are for your benefit, not His. They should remind you of His sovereignty and His mercy. You may ask what you wish when your prayer request does not violate God’s Word or His will. But allow Him to be God. He is not your servant. He promised to supply your needs (Philippians 4:19), not your fantasies.

Verse 2

Verse 1 prescribed a condition for receiving; verse 2 tells how to begin. It says, “incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding.” Listen carefully as you read and hear God's Word. It is “living and powerful,” … able to discern “the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews (4:12).

Although the Bible did speak to specific individuals, at specific times, with specific directions, it can, and does, speak to people today in their own circumstances. God may impress you to stop a questionable practice. He may address a need for guidance. He may answer a particular question. He might prod you to spend more time seeking Him, or less time in some other pursuit. Or He may want you to do something, for Him or for another of His children.

Many Christians have been conditioned to respond to needs with money when their time might be worth more in the long run. When you hear God speak, do what He tells you. He looks for obedient Christians.  He may not speak to you again until after you have obeyed Him.

Verse 3 

Verse 3 encourages us to seek for discernment and lift up our voices for understanding. Some voices do not speak for God. Ask God for help in discerning between the true and the false. Seek God for guidance when you need it. But it’s best to stay in touch with Him constantly, being aware of who He is and who you are in Him. (Song of Solomon 6:3). 1 Thess. 5:16-22 prescribes a method for doing so.  Those verse are not often quoted together but that's the way they were written: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit.  Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Verse 4

Verse 4 continues the command to seek wisdom as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures. Wisdom is a precious commodity. Those who recognize its value do seek it earnestly.

Have you decided what you want in life?  Does it include submission to Christ as Lord of your life? Do so for your own benefit as well as for His. Are you determined to know God's will and to do it to the best of your ability? Do you want your family to benefit from your study and experience? Ask God for wisdom and expect to receive it when you search His written Word. That will help you, and those you teach, to become what God wants you to be.

Read your Bible carefully, regularly and often. Study it with your family. It contains personal messages to each of you. As Solomon said, “Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:5-10).

By this time you should have figured out both how to build a godly home and why you need one. If so, I hope you will begin working on yours today. Remember Joshua's instruction. "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Josh. 1:8).

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David E. Beneze, Salida, CO, 27 November 1993.  See page 17 of Pulpit Helps for June 1980. Latest update 06/13/2007.