Giving
Welcome to Refinery Life Australia.
Today we start a series titled “Strengthening Christian Marriage and Family Living.”
Today we are talking about The Functioning Family.
Prayer
Father, our hearts are filled with gratitude that you have allowed us to become members of Your eternal family.
Give us wisdom that our earthly families may reflect Your eternal values.
Give us insight that our response to this offering will be an indication that these eternal values are being expressed through us.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Text
Joshua 24:14-15 AMP
14 “Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in truth; remove the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the [Euphrates] River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
15 If it is unacceptable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Scripture Reading
Psalm 133:1 AMP
‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! ‘
Ecclesiastes 9:9 AMP
‘Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given you under the sun—all the days of vanity and futility. For this is your reward in life and in your work in which you have labored under the sun. ‘
Introduction
The word family actually comes from a latin word that means servant.
A family can be defined as a social unit bound together by a legal marriage contract.
The family may or may not include children.
But a cold definition like this does not express the expected and desired experiences of happy family living.
For a family to fulfil its true intent, it must be a unit functioning for the benefit of all involved.
A true functioning family will have Christ at its centre, and its members will form interrelationships of service to one another.
Let’s look at some of the ways a Christian family should function.
- Physical.
A family unit should meet the physical needs of all its members.
Marriage should not be entered into until the physical needs of all concerned have a potential of being met.
- Needs.
The head of the family is responsible for seeing that each member has sufficient food, clothing, and shelter.
The apostle Paul gave his godly wisdom on this matter in 1 Timothy 5:8, If anyone fails to provide for his own, and especially for those of his own family, he has denied the faith [by disregarding its precepts] and is worse than an unbeliever [who fulfills his obligation in these matters].
B. Health.
Happiness may bring about good health, whereas sadness or bitterness may cause ill health.
The Christian family should establish an attitude that will aid in good health.
Also, the home has the responsibility for healthy habits, maintenance of medical care, and proper treatment when illness comes.
C. Recreation.
It is a joy to see family units involved together in recreational activities.
Children’s minds are deeply influenced by moments of fun and relaxation they experience with their parents.
Thus a wise parent will make sure to provide many experiences like this.
D. Work.
Some people are capable workers, whereas others have never really learned how to work.
A major function of the home life is to teach each member the art and satisfaction of work.
Work should not be pictured as a despised task, but rather as a purposeful activity aiding the family and society.
2. Mental.
No institution affects the mentality of an individual as much as the home.
One of the greatest gifts a person receives from nature is his or her mind.
The home is the place where this mind is to be motivated to reach its greatest potential.
- Attitude.
A positive mental approach to life always has as its basis a good mental attitude.
Two factors are basic to a good attitude.
- Parents must love themselves and one another, and then they must project this love into the life of their child.
2. A sense of belonging must be built into every family member.
B. Purpose.
A person with a good mental attitude is a person with a sense of purpose.
True purpose come when we align ourselves with God’s will.
This gives us a sense of direction as well as a feeling of accomplishment.
C. Finances.
Finances are an important consideration.
Financial security is most definitely a state of mind.
Each family member should have a true evaluation of money and its use.
Money must never be an improper priority in the family’s lifecycle.
Also, the concept of money should be related to giving a full measure of work when receiving payment.
D. study.
Our society has become a spoon fed generation of instant knowledge.
Instead of reading and studying to secure a deeper and more wholesome education, the individual is tempted to feed on a dish of popular journalism that is easily funnelled into the home.
The family should be the place where genuine study and learning are taught and practiced.
3. Spiritual.
The spiritual nature of a person is more important that their physical or mental attributes.
When this life ceases, the spiritual nature will continue.
An eternal existence is directly affected by the circumstances of this life as they relate to a person’s spiritual being.
- Conversion.
The most important spiritual experience is that of being born again.
The most thorough system of soul winning is one in which an entire generation is won to Jesus Christ by every family unit winning its own to salvation.
Parents can have no greater joy than to win their own child to Jesus Christ.
B. Church.
Almost any husband and wife may have a child, but a loving environment is necessary to nourish that child.
So it is spiritually as well.
Someone may be born again outside of the ministry of the local church, but regular involvement in the church is important for spiritual nurture and growth.
After all, Jesus established the local church because He saw a need for it.
Who has the authority to counteract His wisdom and action?
The local church and its mission are necessary for Christian growth.
C. Consecration.
The home is an excellent place to teach the priority that Jesus should have in life.
Dedication to Christ should follow conversion.
Salvation brings new desires that will find expression when a person is consecrated to God’s will.
D. Devotion.
The way for a family to keep the dedication of its members current is to have daily devotions.
Time should be set aside for worship as part of the families daily routine, and when I say worship, I don’t necessarily mean music.
Conclusion.
The family is the most influential social factor in the life of an individual.
Is Christ glorified by the actions and attitudes you find when you look at your home?
Until next time
Stay in the Blessings
Giving
I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.
When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.
Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!
You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at www.refinerylife.org
When it comes to prayer, we believe that God wants to meet your needs and reveal His promises to you.
So whatever you’re concerned about and need prayer for we want to be here for you! Or even if you just want to say Hi, you can contact us
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