It’s Your Choice
You hear it over and over again about how we are products of the environment we are raised in. People say that just because someone is raised in a better home or with more stuff, they will be more likely to succeed. I believe to a point this is correct; but it has gotten to the point where we want to blame everything that is wrong or bad with someone on how he or she was raised. This is WRONG! I’ve seen too many cases over the years where someone has been raised by wonderful Christian parents who loved their Lord and their children and gave them the best home they could give them, only to see their children grow up to be thieves, addicts, murderers, etc. WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN? Because there is a thing called “choice.” They chose to do things that put them into a position to steal, to do drugs or drink alcohol, or to kill. But at the same time, I have seen some of the things that a parent would do also have a BIG influence on the child (If you are a thief and your child knows it, because of your influence he or she may also be a thief, addict, killer, etc.)
Fathers, like it or not, we have been designated by God as the head of our households. Because of this, we have a great responsibility to lead our families in the right direction. Because of the influence that we have, we can either lead our family to a closer relationship with God, or we can lead our families straight to HELL.
THIS IS THE CHOICE WE HAVE TO MAKE!
If we would just look at Joshua 24:14-16, we can see what God is trying to tell the American family.
The first thing is – the Father leads in worship. It is a blessing when the entire family worships together. This shows the children something:
(1) That worship is IMPORTANT. Hebrew 10:25; And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Worship is important to encourage one another, to strengthen one another in the Lord, to provoke one another to live lives pleasing to God. When we do this and our children are a part of it, this will go a long way in helping them make some of the choices they will be forced to make.
Listen, Dads, it is not something that would be good to do, or something that we ought to do; it is something that we are commanded to do. In Ephesians 6:4; Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. What happens when you do this? Glad you ask! They learn how to face tough decisions; and when they come face to face with a hard choice, they will remember their training and instruction from God’s Word. This is where “what would Jesus do?” comes in handy.
The second one is – obeying God is important! Joshua 24:15; But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” When a father will take the time to lead his family in worship, not only is he showing that worship is important, but also that being obedient to God is important. Obedience is not an option! God’s Word is a love letter sent to us to give us instruction from a Divine instructor, Himself. It teaches us how to live a healthy life, both spiritually, and also physically. The key to all of this is OBEDIENCE! When fathers and mothers show that they will be obedient to God, then it can catch on in the rest of the family. Children mimic their parents. When the father of the house fulfills his responsibility, then the rest of the family will normally follow.
Another big factor is that fathers should lead in service. A bigger blessing than having a family that worships together is having one that serves the Lord together. Joshua was talking about it in verse 15. When a father can lead his family to worship, this is great. But when a father can lead his family to serve the Lord, this is even better. God expects all of His children to worship and praise Him, but this is not the end of it. He also expects us to serve Him. Worship should lead into servanthood. The more you get to know God, and the closer you get to Him, the more you should want to serve Him. Have you ever had that boss that helped you do something, and you would do anything that he or she asked you to do? Just think what God has done for you. Look in Joshua 24:16-18; the people replied, “We would never abandon the LORD and serve other gods. 17 For the LORD our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. 18 It was the LORD who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the LORD, for he alone is our God.” He is PROTECTOR, PRODUCER, PROVIDER, and THAT IS JESUS CHRIST. DO YOU WANT TO SERVE HIM?
WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT YOU ARE A SERVANT NOW!
You are either a servant to sin or you are servant of righteousness. In the book of Romans 6:17-18; Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. Do you see that? Sin does not have to make us slaves. Jesus Christ has given us our freedom. But here’s were we are: MAN WILL SERVE SOMETHING OR SOMEONE! Joshua took a stand as the leader of Israel. Fathers must take a stand as the leaders of their household. “AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.”
The last thing is this – the father should lead in LOVE! We are living in a time when the men of this country are macho, and some of the women are, too. There are children growing up in homes where they don’t know how it feels to be embraced by their father or mother. Children are reaching out to grasp onto anyone or anything that will make them feel secure and loved. It is up to the fathers to lead their children to the greatest love of all that is found in Christ Jesus. God’s Word teaches us where the greatest love can be found: John 15:13; “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” It is a father’s responsibility to love his children with a father’s love. But an even greater responsibility is to lead them to the one whose love is even GREATER. That, of course, is Jesus Christ!
I read about William McKinley who was a lawyer, congressman, Governor of Ohio, and President of the United States. He kept in touch with his mother every day. When he didn’t see her, he wrote or telegraphed. In mid-October of 1897, he quietly left the White House and took a train to Canton just so he could walk to church with her again. When she became ill, he arranged to have a special train standing by at full steam, ready to take him to her bedside. Then one night, she did call for him. Immediately he wired, “Tell Mother I’ll be there.” Mrs. McKinley died December 12, 1897, in the arms of her 54-year-old son. Her gentle, Christian virtues helped mold the President’s character; for when he was gunned down in Buffalo, New York, about four years later, he showed no bitterness toward his assassin. With Christian courage he said, “God’s will be done.” Before he died, he asked to hear once again the hymn, “Nearer, My God, To Thee,” which his mother had taught him.
Fathers, teach the love of Christ to your children; and if need be, show them how to live it out in their lives!