Recently while I was driving home from church services I noted a sign stating, “Home for Sale.” It reminded me of an event related to me some years ago and that has remained for consideration ever since.
A preacher friend told the following story. “I overheard the following and it made me very proud. My family and I had just moved into a new work, and we were busy getting settled. A new neighbor’s son was talking to my son. He asked, ‘Why don’t you people have a home?’ My son stated, ‘Well, we’ve got a home. Daddy just hasn’t found a place to put it yet! We’re just looking around for the right place to put our home.’”
Can you, dear reader, make such a statement? Do you truly have a home as God would have it, although your family isn’t settled in one place? Some 70 times the Bible mentions “home.” Several other passages set forth the relationship that should prevail in a home that God desires. Typical is Colossians 3:17-23, which enjoins wives to be submissive unto their husbands, children to be obedient to parents, husbands to love their wives and not be bitter against them, and fathers to not provoke their children to anger. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17).
Whether the family has a permanent dwelling or not, it can still have such a home. It all depends on attitude, and that attitude must be centered on God. Unfortunately, far too many families do not have such a home even though perhaps having a settled dwelling place. Yet, the faithful members of the Christian home have every assurance “knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:24). I am fully aware that the family who listed the home for sale didn’t fully realize what that sign could be implying. I pray that they only meant that the house was for sale. I truly hope that they will keep the home, even if they succeed in selling the dwelling.
