The Importance of a Solid Foundation
I think most people would agree that the most important part of any house is the foundation. Though it is not readily on display like other parts of the house, it is literally what supports and holds the rest of the house together. If the foundation begins to shift and crack, so do the other parts of the house, sometimes to the point of becoming unstable. This same principle applies to our families. If we do not build on a stable foundation, our families become unstable and eventually fall apart.
Building In Vain
The biggest mistake most of us make is trying to build the foundation of our families on our own, when the truth is that we were never meant to do that on our own. In fact, we can’t do it on our own. Consider these verses…
Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. -Psalm 127:1
” I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” -John 15:5
When we attempt to build on our own and according to our own wisdom, our house is doomed. At first, the structure may appear to be stable, but as more and more weight and tension are placed on the deficient foundation, it will begin to crack and then eventually crumble. If our houses are to remain intact, they must be built on the solid foundation of God.
What is Required
A strong godly foundation begins with parents who have a personal relationship with Christ and who are committed to placing Him first in their lives and in their home. Please notice that I didn’t say that this requires perfect parents because that would disqualify us all. What it does require is parents who are willing to be intentional about growing in their faith and who are willing to help their children develop and grow in their faith.
If you have question about what it means to have a personal relationship with Christ, please contact me, and I would be more than happy to discuss this topic on a deeper and more personal level.
Elements of a Godly Foundation
A few elements of a godly foundation include:
- God is an integral part of everyday life.
- Individual and family prayer is part of the daily routine.
- God’s Word is read, discussed, studied, memorized, and consulted for wise decision making.
- Family discipleship is practiced.
- There is regular participation in corporate worship and Bible study as part of a local body of believers.
Again, please note that there is no requirement of perfection, only a willingness to seek after God and to grow.
The Scriptural Picture of a Godly Foundation
The best picture of what a home built on a godly foundation looks like is found in Deuteronomy 6:1-9. It reads:
These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on 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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
A Permanent Foundation
So far, we have focused on how a foundation built firmly on God will help our families withstand the storms that inevitably come our way. However, the truth is that sometimes no matter how well we build, our houses will receive major damage. When this occurs, surveying the destruction can be overwhelming, but our hope can be found in the solid foundation that remains, even when everything else has been stripped away. In times like these, Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us of the amazing blessing that comes as a result of building on that everlasting foundation. It reads:
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Action Plan:
- Review the elements of a godly foundation and reread Deuteronomy 6:1-9. Compare your family’s rhythms and routines and see how closely they match up with what you have read.
- Spend time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to reveal what you are already doing well and ask for divine protection over those routines.
- Spend time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to reveal which of these elements may be lacking in the everyday life of your family and ask for guidance about how to make necessary changes and adjustments.
- Spend time as a family discussing the importance of making God the foundation of your family. Work together to develop a plan to incorporate important elements that might be missing. If you are missing several key elements, choose one to focus on for the next six weeks. After that element is established, move on to the next. If you are missing the element of prayer, I suggest adding it first because it helps connect us to God and to one another.
- If you feel unsure about how to implement some of the elements, see the list of creative solutions below.
Creative Solutions
- Wake your children up in the morning by praying over them.
- Pray together as a family before you leave the house in the morning and/or before everyone goes to bed at night.
- Have every family member say a prayer of thanksgiving for each other.
- Use travel time in the car to pray.
- Let each family member choose a Scripture passage to share with the family each week.
- Designate a certain amount of time each week for family members to read their Bibles and then allow them to share what they have learned.
- Provide each family member with a journal that they can use to record favorite Bible verses or Scripture passages.
- If you are not already members of a local body of believers, pray about and discuss what you are looking for in a church and start making visits.
Memory Verse:
Choose one of the following verses to memorize this week.
Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. -Psalm 127:1
” I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” -John 15:5
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