HOME

Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands – Proverbs 14:1

The Order of Marriage is meant to precede Order in the HOME. Ideally, a home is a couple and children. In this blighted state of humanity however, home can also be cultivated by a single parent or no parent at all, as in the cases of orphanages. There is perhaps no greater place for God’s Order to be established than in the Home. How home is handled is a true test of spirituality. We’ve identified three classes of marriage: the maximised, mediocre, and miserable. Similarly, there are three categories of homes: the fulfilled and happy home; the failing or unhappy home; and the failed or broken home. Praise the God of Restoration who rescues broken homes and restores shattered hearts, dead dreams, and crushed relationships! He wants us to enjoy blissful homes: “My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest” (Isa.32:18 NIV).

Home is meant to be a haven that provides succour and covering against the challenges and storms of life. The home also offers the testing ground for the exercise of love, patience, humility, selflessness, and sacrificial spirit. Home is the place of acceptance, where loved ones listen to one another, commune, and communicate in love. Jesus told the man who He delivered from demonic possession: “…Go HOME to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you” (Mk. 5:19). Much of the friction in the home can be resolved when there is a positive and effective communication between couples and parents and children. Proper communication in the home will enhance partnership, praying, planning, and the common pursuit of God’s purpose.

Finding fulfilment at home is a basic desire of every human being. No amount of success at work can compensate for failure on the home front. But a happy home is not accidental. It must be built (Pro.14:1). Order in the home must be cultivated just as marriage must be worked at and made to work. Moreover, a fulfilled home is a primary credential for effective ministry. The Church is a collection of homes. Order at home enhances order in the Church and the society. In order to be able to exercise spiritual leadership in the Church, there must be the exercise of authority at home. What we are at home when we remove the “mask” we present to the world determines the measure of authority we can exercise in the public: “for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?” (1 Tim.3:4).

Every home has been raised by God for a purpose, to accomplish some definite works (Gen.2:15-18). That’s why Satan is vehemently opposed to the home, attacking the home: to destroy divine order; to inject occult influence; and to destroy relationships, finances, and health, using lies, accusations and slander. Hence, we must not be ignorant of Satan’s attacks on homes! Do you know as a parent that your home is a classroom? What you teach the children at home, they will take with them the rest of their lives. Therefore, if your life is out of order today, repent, get right with God, and start paying attention to what really matters. You can't undo the past, but with God's help you can give your children the future they deserve in a home that is like heaven.

Our home on earth is an imperfect pointer to our eternal home. No matter how much you enjoy where you travel to, there's always a longing in your heart for the place you call “home.” How much more so for those who have been born again into God's redeemed family! The world has its beautiful shorelines and skylines, but deep down we yearn, like Paul, for our heavenly Father, heavenly family and heavenly home (Phil.1:21-23). As you set aside time in your heart to learn and practice God’s principles for the home, may you never have reason to set aside your home in the days of adversity.