#GOFAMINTDailyDevotion Sun. 9/10/2016

LESSON 6                                             9/10/2016

NECESSARY INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS OF THE FAMILY

 Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 232, 236

Devotional Reading: Ps. 125:1-5

Topic For Adults: Build Your Home With Wisdom

Topic For Youths: Blissful Home

Topic For Intermediates: Trust God For Happy Home

Scripture Lesson: 1 Cor. 3:10-15; Prov. 24:3-4; 14:1

Memory Verse:           Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established (Prov. 24:3) NKJV

DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING

Sun. 9/10/2016

Trusting One Another

Phil. 4:4-9

It is easy to believe and accept the wrong comments about a brother or sister, even one’s spouse. The devil sows the suspicion to defile every human relationship. But in a family, the husband and wife should live such a transparent life that it is made easier to trust one another. When one party hears a rumor about his or her spouse, it is necessary to immediately discuss and iron things out. Do not let issues that can cause suspicion pile up between you and your spouse. Each party in the relationship should learn that trust is earned and not given. Do not do anything that will destroy the trust your spouse reposes in you. Once you break the trust, it is more difficult to earn the trust of your spouse again. Areas where trust is easily broken are sexual fidelity, financial truthfulness, commitment to the welfare of your spouse; etc. When one party offends the other, the offended party should not close the door of trust permanently. Give room for reconciliation.

Point of Emphasis: Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Prayer Point: Holy Spirit, help repair the homes where trust has broken down.

BACKGROUND

            In this week’s lesson we are considering the recipes that make believers to build a godly home and the characters that lead to bad homes. Believers are enjoined to assimilate and emulate the good virtues while bad traits should be avoided to forestall pitfall in their families.

NOTES ON THE TEXT

PART 1: WISE PEOPLE BUILD THEIR HOMES (1 COR. 3:10-15; PROV. 24:3-4)

After the ecstasy of getting married is over, couples soon get into their normal routines and expect that the family will continue to bring joy without any special effort. Each party soon relapses into his/her natural self and negative character traits that were carefully hidden during courtship soon surface. Wise couples know that the family is like a physical house; it needs to be worked on if the house will keep being habitable. They consciously develop those habits and attitudes that will help build the home.

Character traits and attitudes that build the home:

• Selfless caring for and loving one’s spouse (Col. 3:19; 1 Cor. 13:4-8)
• Hardworking to provide for family’s needs (Prov. 31:10-31)
• Forgiving, peace loving and controlling of anger ( 3:14-18)
• Readiness to obey God’s commands and serve God together (Ps. 1:1-3)
• Openness to truthfully discuss issues that affect the family
• Humbleness to apologize when at fault; no keeping of malice
• Acceptance of spouse strengths and weaknesses.

PART 2: FOOLISH PEOPLE DESTROY THEIR HOMES (PROV. 14:1)

Consciously and unconsciously couple can indulge in traits and attitudes which eventually may destroy their family. No one actually wins when the family is destroyed or fragmented. Every member of the family comes out a loser. The enemy is given the permission to truncate the destiny of the family and God’s purpose for the family.

Character traits and attitudes that destroy homes:

• Nagging and intolerance of spouse (Prov. 25: 4; 27:15-16)
• Unguarded abusive or derogatory comments/communication about spouse
• Selfishness and stinginess
• Suspicion and lack of trust
• Lack of respect for spouse; comparing spouse with other people’s spouses
• Unaffordable expensive lifestyle; reckless spending
• Untidy house-keeping and poor personal hygiene
• Intolerance of spouse’s relatives
• Violence against spouse (physical and emotional abuse); controlling spouse for selfish ends
• Third party interference and unresolved conflicts

CONCLUSION

When a member of the family indulges in attitudes that are detrimental to the smooth running of the home, he or she is destroying the foundation on which God has planned his or her wellbeing should be built. God demands from His children to build up the family so that godly children can be raised up in such homes. Each member of the family will give account of his or her contribution to what the family eventually turns out to be.

QUESTIONS

1. What do wise couples know about family?
2. Name five out of the character traits that build the home.
3. Explain how humbleness to apologise when any of the couple is at fault could be an asset in the family.
4. What should you realise about a family that is destroyed?
5. How can you play your part in preventing your family from destruction?