God wants your family to succeed and prosper, and He has given you the blueprint to make your family's happiness possible! The Bible contains rock-solid principles upon which you can build a strong family.
THE FOUNDATION OF A FAMILY
Notice the foundation God has laid for the family. At creation, God formed Eve from Adam's side to be his helper and to complete him. Then, God performed the first marriage and blessed the lifelong union of one man and one woman.
Genesis 2:18 says, "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." And He did, then He gave the first wedding vow, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."
Put it down big and bold - God is the architect of the home. If your family is going to stand against the storms that will blow, you must hold fast to the Word and it's promises and commands for your home.
I love Psalm 27:1, which says, "Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it." Building a home is a very complicated matter that takes more than human wit and wisdom to accomplish. You need a divine plan and a divine Builder to construct a happy, fruitful, and prosperous Christian home. That Builder and that plan are Christ and His Word.
THE FLEXIBILITY OF A FAMILY
Did you know that the span of the great Gold Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, will sway as much as 20 feet? The two towers of that bridge are solidly anchored, yet the suspended bridge can move a little and still maintain its strength.
What a beautiful picture of a happy, healthy Christian home! Your family needs some flexibility - some room to move. Now, I'm not talking about throwing out the rules. I'm talking about the family that laughs and has fun together - a home where people don't make big things out of little irritations and where a word of forgiveness is always ready. First Corinthians 13:4-8 has much to say that applies to the love we need to show in our families:
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
Do you want happy marriage? Do you desire a successful family? Then, learn to love one another, learn to be a generous grace-giver. Take some of the stress off of yourself, your mate, and your children. Make your home a place of love and laughter.
THE FRUIT OF THE FAMILY
There are three important truths in Psalm 127 about the happiness children bring to the home. First, children are desirable. Psalm 127:3 says, "Children are an heritage of the LORD and the fruit of the womb is his reward."
Second, children are directable. Psalm 127:4 says, "As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth." And when raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, children are dependable. Psalm 127:5 says, "Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."
Children are not a burden, but a blessing. Happy is the home where children are welcomed and loved as we would welcome and love the Lord Jesus Himself! Matthew 18:5 says, "And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me."
We must begin today to take our families back; otherwise the world will become our children's parent. You can begin today with these few principles. I pray that your family will succeed and that His Word will bring revival and renewed commitment to you and yours.