“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” – Joshua 24:15 KJV
The home should be regarded as sacred to a family; patience, forgiveness, and love should abound in great measure. Each member has a responsibility to do their part to remove that which would hinder the cultivation of such attributes. Manipulative behavior should never be given place within the family circle. Family members should not have to make demands or bargain with each other to get what they want from one another.
Acts of love should not come with a price tag attached, but should be carried out unconditionally; the home is a place for a family, not a market for barterers. Self-centered ideas should not be entertained for even a moment; ‘I’ isn’t the only pronoun present within a family, but also ‘We’. Hence each member of the family should find pleasure in freely sharing their time with one another without regarding their acts of love and kindness as being burdensome.
A family should be united in wanting to achieve the same ideals, working together as a unit to make each member’s experience positive within the home, while seeking to enjoy each others company every step of the way. Granted, there will be times when you will desire to be alone, but that time should not be regarded as an escape from the family. For a family ought not to be seen as a prison, but a circle of love and a place of refuge.
Indeed, the more time we spend looking at the true purpose of a home, the more we will begin to realize its value to a family. Thus, there will be less conflict and more love within it when it is regarded as a sacred place. It is important to keep in mind that Jesus Christ is to be at the center of a home. As each member of the family does their part to draw close to Him they will in turn draw closer to one other, especially where it matters most.
It may be that you are the only believer in your home, and are living with people who are self-seeking. Be concerned, but not discouraged to the point of allowing such circumstances to hinder your growth in Christ. Continue to do your part to set an example of what it means to walk with Jesus, allowing God to do His good work in and through you. For what’s most important is that Jesus is at the center of your heart. If He isn’t there then how will you be able to make Him known to those who are oblivious to who He really is?
Therefore always be mindful of the things of God, planting seeds of righteousness wherever you go. Your influence may be far more reaching than you realize. Don’t lose heart at the sight of evil; instead, keep hoping and praying for the best in Jesus Christ, and you will bear much good fruit to His glory, and for His good pleasure.
By the way, here’s something to consider: this teaching should also be applied to how we, as a body of believers in Christ, relate to each other. After all, those who truly believe in Jesus Christ are all a part of the same family, thus being the Church of God.