In the January 2004 issue, we discussed characteristics common to homes where Christians live. These are the kinds of homes that produce elders to lead God's people. We noted that in homes where Christians live, there is contentment, Christian parents, husbands who lead, and wives and mothers who are queens in their homes. In such homes, parents fulfill their God-given responsibility to "train" their children to be obedient.
Unfortunately, not all homes are like this. When sin enters the home, it destroys the peace and tranquility God intended to exist. However, sin never enters the home without an invitation. Consider some homes into which sin entered.
Sin entered Adam's home. In the beginning, Adam's home was a happy home. There was perfect harmony between man and God, as well as between man and the rest of God's creation. However, when sin entered, this changed. Adam and Eve bore, and all their posterity bears, some consequences of the sin that entered this home.
God said, unto the woman, "I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy conception; in pain thou shalt bring forth children, and thy desire shall be unto thy husband and he shall rule over thee." Unto Adam, God said, "Cursed is the ground for thy sake, in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life..." (Genesis 3:17-19)
God also cast Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden and separated them from the tree of life. Thus, physical death was also a consequence of their sin. Later, in Genesis 4, we read of their sons, Cain and Able. We note that Cain envied his brother and slew him. The result--Eve lost two sons. Cain became a fugitive and a wanderer for the remainder of his life.
Sin entered Noah's home. In Genesis 9, we read of Noah and his family as they left the ark and began to repopulate the earth. In time, Noah became drunk. During his drunken stupor, he fell asleep uncovered within his tent. Ham, Canaan's father, saw Noah's nakedness. Ham looked upon his father with satisfaction, and told his brothers with delight. He did not show proper respect for his father. When He awoke and learned what his youngest son had done, Noah cursed all of Ham's descendants. Noah foolishly invited this sin when he began to drink.
The wisdom writer said, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise." (Proverbs 20:1) "Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath complaining? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek out mixed wine." (Proverbs 23:29-30)
What kind of example do you set before your children? Do you drink, smoke, dance, or wear scanty attire? Do you assemble to worship God regularly and zealously strive to live righteously?
Sin entered Lot's home. When Lot "pitched his tent toward Sodom," he made a mistake, because "the men of Sodom were wicked." (Genesis 13:10-13) Lot must have been aware of God's attitude toward Sodom, but he selfishly chose all the plain of Jordan. Lot failed to consider the end of the matter. Nor did he consider how evil would influence his family's future behavior (1 Corinthians 15:33). Lot's selfish choice cost him plenty. He was tormented daily. Peter wrote about God's delivery of righteous Lot, "sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed (his) righteous soul from day to day with (their) lawless deeds)" (2 Peter 2:7-8). He lost his children. His daughters were engaged to marry, or had married, godless men. They had no regard for God's righteous and good standards (Genesis 19:31-38). He lost his wife (Genesis 19:17,26; Cf. Luke 17:31,32). As she turned back to look upon the wicked city, she became a pillar of salt. Lot introduced his family to this wickedness. Are you making choices that may result in your loved ones' forming courtships with sin?
Sin entered Eli's home. Eli was a priest in Israel for 40 years. His character was evidenced by piety and submission to divine judgment. When Eli was old, his sons became immoral in their conduct and corrupted the priesthood (1 Samuel 2:12-17 and 2:22-25). By failing to restrain his sons, Eli allowed sin to enter his family. "...His sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not." (1 Samuel 3:13) Their careless and immoral conduct also caused the people to transgress (1 Samuel 2:24). Eli neglected his family. He did not train and discipline his sons. The wise man said, "He that spareth his rod hateth is son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes." (Proverbs 13:24)
Sin entered David's home. David's sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11) was just one step in his deterioration toward evil. David saw and lusted after Bathsheba. He had someone bring her to him and then committed adultery with her. When Bathsheba became pregnant, David's attempts to hide his sin ended with a plan to have her husband, Uriah, slain. Then, upon hearing of Uriah's death, David hypocritically said, "Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another." (2 Samuel 11:25) David had never known trouble until he sinned with Bathsheba. The results of his sins were many.
- The baby born to David and Bathsheba died (2 Samuel 12:15-33).
- Amnon raped his half-sister (2 Samuel 13:1-20).
- Absalom killed his half-brother, Amnon (2 Samuel 13:23-29).
- Absalom ran away from home (2 Samuel 13:37-14:33) and eventually led an army in an attempt to overthrow his father (2 Samuel 15:1-16:19).
- Finally, Absalom was killed in battle, and we read of his father's grief, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!"
There were other consequences of David's sins. He said, "my sin is ever before me." (Psalm 51:3) Sin may be forgiven, but once it enters the home, we live with its consequences.
Sin brings unhappiness to any home. Sin's consequences are great and far-reaching. It deprives the church of qualified men to serve as elders. Conduct within the confines of our homes robs the church of our service and ultimately weakens the strength of the local church. Let us diligently strive to make our homes, homes where Christians live. When sin occupies so many homes, is it any wonder that the churches do not have qualified men to serve as elders? Remember, "If a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?" (1 Timothy 3:5)
Brother Galloway had done a masterful job on the subject of the home. God needs for parents to understand their serious and grave duties to guide their children in His ways. The world will not teach our children to follow the truths contained in God's word. If they are to have any chance of living strong spiritually committed lives in this world, they need to be reared in loving, God-fearing homes. God blessed us by giving us children. He wants us to show our thankfulness by giving them back to Him! Parents, God depends on us to give our children the guidance they need. Can He count on you? (KMG)