FOUR KEYS FOR SUCCESSFUL FAMILIES

Read Psalm 127 and reflect with me on what it takes to make our families successful.

  1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.   2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eatB for he grants sleep to those he loves. 3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. 5Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

1. Work in Partnership with God. (127:1) There are some things we cannot do on our own. God must be a participant in the family building process, but we must work at it also. For us to work at it without the Lord is like beating our heads against a brick wall. For us to believe that the Lord will build our family without our efforts is folly. We are laborers together with God. (1 Corinthians 3:9)

Watching out for our family members is part of the process, but there is a limit to what we can see and the places we can go. We need to know that when our family goes its several ways each day, and when we sleep each night — There is a God who is watching. He is the Lord. Sometimes called Jehovah-roi, The God who sees me.

2. Pattern Your Life to Love God (127:2). The Bible is not merely a book of good suggestions, wise sayings or a suggested way of life. The Bible is the Word of God. We cannot just follow the trends of the day, or do our own thing and expect God’s blessings. How long have you been struggling trying to find satisfaction, peace or success in your life, only to have them continually elude you?

My friend, you can rise up early and stay up late, but you will  not find what you’re looking for until you seek to live a life that pleases God. — He gives rest to those who are in a love relationship with him!

Why do you expect God will bless your life if you’re living like you don’t love him? All of our troubles are not the result of our disobedience, but some of them sure are! How many of us, right now, have our whole family in jeopardy because of our unwillingness to live according to God Holy Word?

3. Pour Yourself into the next Generation. (127:3-4) Too often people see children as a nuisance, an interruption in my goals and objectives, a burden or as someone else’s concern.

We are all part of an eternal continuum. We are born as part of a heritage and we are responsible to leave a heritage. Each of us has the responsibility to try to leave the world a better place than it was when we entered it. Each of us has something unique to offer. There is no waiting for such a task and there is no retirement from such a task.

I have heard people talk of this text likening children to arrows and quivers, and remark, “That was OK for then, but we don’t use arrows any more.” Look beyond the time oriented surface to glimpse the eternal truth. What can we learn about Arrows & Warriors that we can use them. The warrior cares for the arrows. He keeps them sharp, clean, ready and available. The warrior sends the arrows at an appointed time, in a definite direction and toward a definite goal. Isn’t this the task we have —  to pour our lives into children, to care for them, keep them sharp, send them off toward their goal.

4. Work to Develop Every Member’s Potential. (127:5) Every member of the family must be encouraged to Define their dreams, Determine their destiny, Herald their hopes and Grasp their goals. You may say, “Oh you don’t know my family…” and you are right. But I do know there is a Family where you can find faithful brothers by the thousands and encouraging sisters everywhere you go. There is a Father who is patient and loving, who will always work to get the best out of you,  who will never let you struggle alone and  Who Knows How Much You Can Bear!!! I’m talking about the Family of God. Why not go to Church this Sunday?

God bless our families. AMEN.