“​Unless The Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it​”​ Psalm 127:1

Psalm 127

Forty-six wonderful, crazy, wild, rambunctious years ago I placed a wedding band on the left hand of the one Debbie-Jo Downs of Scottsdale, Arizona. We were as naïve as it gets about what it takes to build a family. All I knew was that I was madly in love with her and wanted to spend every second of every day the rest of my life with her. (Crazy thing is, after almost half a century together I still feel the same way about that girl of mine!)

Next thing we knew we had four kids to raise, bills to pay, little hungry mouths to feed, diapers to change, laundry to fold, spills on the floor to clean, and tears to dry on sad little faces. I wouldn’t trade any of it for all the money in the world.

It’s easy to fall in love, but only solid developed character can ​keep​ love alive. It’s easy to have a wedding​ but only two hearts sold out to following Jesus can have a “1st Corinthians 13” ​marriage​. It’s easy to ​have​ a child but only through the consistent modeling of a life devoted to godly living can you raise​ a Christian leader. It’s easy to build a ​house​ but only God can build a ​home​. Unfortunately, most marriages in America either fail or live unhappily together. Most homes fall apart far sooner than the intended purpose of that home has been fulfilled. The vast majority of American children give in to porn, sex, alcohol, and drugs during their teenage years. Children that are discipled in a solid home are far less likely to fall into and stay in these lifestyles of sin.

So how does ​God​ build a home? ​When​ does that process begin? ​What​ are the necessary steps taken along the way?

How? A “God built home” begins with a man and a woman who have ​died​ to themselves and are committed to ​live
in ​staunchly​ moral integrity.

When? Whether you are 16 or 26 or 86 the answer is ​NOW​. Literally every decision you make, honest or dishonest, moral or impure, selfish or unselfish; every choice of attitude thought and deed you make are the nails and 2” x 4” lumber you will have to build your home; be it weak or strong.

How? A godly, unbreakable home requires a man and a woman that goes to God daily for wisdom, chooses purity over porn, puts God first other than me first, what can I ​give​ over what can I take, the substance of The Word over artificial stimulants, and honesty over hypocrisy.

Yes, it’s hard to build a ​good​ ​home​. It’s difficult to have a ​good​ ​marriage​. It’s rare to have a godly​ ​family,​ but to those willing to sacrifice for it, it is the crown jewel of life.

1. Ephesians 5:25 – ​“​Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”
What does it mean to you ​today​ (single or married) to love your spouse (whether you have met her/him or not) “as Christ loves the church?”

2.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 -​ ​“O​r do you not know that your body is a temple of The Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”
1 Corinthians 7:3-4 -​ ​“​The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.”
What does this scripture teaching say to you about the moral decision you make with your eyes, ears, and body?

3. 1 Corinthians 11:1 -​ “​Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”
Since your greatest sermon you preach to your spouse and children is how you live your life and your legacy with your family is the picture of how you live your life, what values and standards do you need to establish to become successful in building a ​godly​ home?

4. 1 Timothy 5:8 -​ “​But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Acts 10:2 – ​“​A devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.”
Ephesians6:4–​​“F​athers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of The Lord.”
Colossians 3:13 – ​“​Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as The Lord forgave you, so also should you.”
What tools do you see in these passages that are useful in building a godly home?

5. Psalm 127:3-5 – ​“​Behold, children are a gift of The Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.​ ​Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.” Proverbs 15:20 – ​“A​ wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.”
What kind of a man or woman do you need to be ​today​ to raise godly children tomorrow? What changes do you need to make ​now​ in the way you are living your life?

 ​“For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.” John 13:15​

From today’s scripture, how does ​THE​ Shepherd inspire ​you​ to shepherd ​your​ flock?

“​Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as The Lord forgave you, so also should you” ​Colossians 3:13.