The family may be defined as two or more persons who are related by birth, marriage, or adoption and who live together as one household.
- A father, mother, and children, together they make a happy and flourishing family.
- People with feelings: sometimes shown and sometimes keep inside
WE NEED TO CHERISH OUR EXISTING FAMILY MEMBERS FROM NOW ON! BUILD FAMILY TRUST OVER THE YEARS!
- The foundation of trust is vital throughout the years of family life
- Once violated, trust is hard to regain
Proverbs 11:29: He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
MISTRUSTS BRINGS DIVISION WITHIN A HOUSEHOLD
Psalm 133: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
- We have to sometimes fight for unity
- The enemy is seeking to devour the family unit
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
- If there are a husband and wife within a family
- There should be a strong trust bond
WE SHOULD SEEK TO COMFORT ONE ANOTHER IN OUR FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ALL FAMILY MEMBERS AND RELATIVES
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
James 5:16 – Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
- We all have faults
- Be the first one to say, “I am sorry.”
- Say comforting words: Call them pet names: Baby, darling, honey, sweets
Self-Deception –One of the saddest forms of deceit is self-deception. People who don’t want to face reality can sometimes convince themselves to believe things that they really know are not true.
Proverbs 12:22 – Lying lips [are] abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly [are] his delight.
• Lies are destructive
LIES EAT AWAY TRUST IN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
• Lies will eventually destroy trust
• Lies can make a relationship unliveable for parties involved
Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
Matthew 12:34,35 -For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A goodman out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
Philippians 4:8 -Finally, brethren, whatever things are true …think on these things.
Psalm 24:3-5 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
TO BE SPEAKERS OF TRUTH, WE MUST FILL OUR HEARTS WITH TRUTH, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WORD OF GOD
Give your heart to Jesus today by saying this prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me. Come into my life. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Now, help me to live for you the rest of this life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen.