This is a message to not just home makers, but to the students in my youth group and fellow believers…that live in their home and help out around the house…
I recently read an article which helped to solidify a few thoughts that have convicted me ever since I took a trip to Guatemala almost two years ago. There was a host home that had put us up for the night before our trip home, they gave us fresh bedding / place to sleep, provided us with hot showers and food and even helped to get us to the airport…..they were so gracious to us and it made me realize this key thought:
“Your home is a ministry to others…”
Let me share some thoughts as to why this thought is so important and what it means once you realize that your home is a ministry to others.
1) The home as a place of rest
Check out the following verses:
1 Kings 8:66 – On the following day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and then went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good things the LORD had done for his servant David and his people Israel.
1 Kings 13:7 The king said to the man of God, “Come home with me and have something to eat, and I will give you a gift.”
Question to ask ourselves: Parents – can my family and others find rest in my home? Or is there constant tension / turmoil? Students – are you contributing to the tension? Are there things that are you can compromise on with your parents?
2) The home as a place of learning
Deut. 6:6-7 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Question to ask ourselves: Is truth being taught and cultivated daily in my home? Parents – am I seeking to train and teach my children in everything we do? What kind of lessons can I teach while we clean together, prepare meals, and do yard work? Students – are you looking to learn from your parents as you help them clean? What kinds of lessons or questions do you have for your parents?
3) The home as a holy place
Deuteronomy 7:26 Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.
Question to ask ourselves: Both parents and students - are there any destructive influences coming into my home through books, technology, Internet, or television?
4) The home as a place where thankfulness dwells
Mark 5:19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
Luke 15:6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
Acts 2:46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
This reminds me so much of Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
when watching one of the videos that Francis Chan presented.
Question to ask ourselves: Both parents and students - Does an atmosphere of thankfulness pervade my home? How can I be more purposeful in cultivating a spirit of joy and gratitude in my home? Is the conversation around our dinner table one that encourages and blesses others, that acknowledges God’s work in our lives?
5) The home as a place to welcome strangers, refugees, the homeless, and hungry
The author of the referenced post commented, ”I was struck repeatedly by the numerous references to the home as a place to welcome strangers. The word ‘hospitality’ literally means: ‘welcoming strangers’.”
Example given to us by Lot…
Genesis 24:23 Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”
Genesis 24:31 “Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” he said. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”
Example given to us by Abraham…
Genesis 19:2-3 “My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.” But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate.
Question to ask ourselves: How often do I eagerly run like Abraham to welcome others into my home? How often do I extend generous hospitality to someone new, lonely, or homeless? What about at gatherings? Church services? Youth group meetings?
Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”
6) The home as a place to minister to the church, missionaries and evangelists
When I was younger, I remember my family opening our home to the local performers or minister that would be speaking at St. Paul’s. These days, we often just “put them up in a hotel”. Rather, shouldn’t we try to practice hospitality?
Romans 12:13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Question to ask ourselves: When’s the last time you opened your home to one of God’s people who were in need?
7) The home as a place that reflects our eternal home
We should realize that our home and possessions will not last forever. Our home on earth is temporary. We should also store up treasure in our eternal home and not our earthly home. We should be able to show people that our earthly home is but just a temporary dwelling.
Hebrews 11:14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
2 Corinthians 5:1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
2 Corinthians 5:8-9 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
So if you think about – isn’t the ministry that you can have with your home amazing? Are you willing to join me and others who have gone before us in using our home as a ministry?
Has the idea of how you view your home been changed? How has your viewpoint of the jobs that you do to make your home look nice changed?
For me personally, it’s a huge thing. I have a messy basement. I’ve been saying for years I’ll get around to it. This summer I have an opportunity to clean my basement while Haley is gone. I’m praying that I get it cleaned – and I’ve already started on it. Hope to do even more tonight.
We should realize that our homes are a reflection of who we are. Women get this more than guys. But guys, just because a woman feels this way and we usually don’t, doesn’t excuse us from taking the theme of this post to heart.
So now, how do you view your home?