Unless the Lord Builds The House

1 Samuel 1:28 ; Deuteronomy 6:4–7; Psalm 127:3

By Rodney Holloman, March 10, 2024

Unless the Lord Builds The House

1 Samuel 1:28 ; Deuteronomy 6:4–7; Psalm 127:3

1. THE FOUNDATION FOR A SUCCESSFUL FAMILY (Psalms 127:1–2)

Psalm 127:1-2

What is necessary (127:1)

  1. The home must be built by the Lord (127:1)
  2. The home must be protected by the Lord (127:1)

What is needless (127:2)

Laboring in anxious independence of God is vain (127:2), but working under God and in obedience to His ways is fruitful (cf. 1:3).

2. The Blueprint for Construction (Deuteronomy 6:4–7)

(1) Personal commitment (2) Parental communication

  • In speech
  • In symbols
  • In surroundings

Some years ago the city of Houston Texas waged an ad campaign to deter juvenile crime, the Houston Police Depart-ment came up with “Twelve Rules for Raising Juvenile Delinquent Children.”

  1. Begin with infancy to give the child everything he wants. In this way he will grow up to believe the world owes him a living.
  2. When he picks up bad words, laugh at him. This will make him think that it is cute.
  3. Never give him any spiritual training. Wait until he is twenty-one and then let him “decide for himself.’
  4. Avoid use of the word “wrong.” It may develop a guilt complex. This will condition him to believe later, when he is arrested for stealing a car, that society is against him and he is being persecuted.
  5. Pick up everything he leaves lying around. Do everything for him so that he will be experienced in throwing all responsibility on others.
  6. Let him read any printed matter he can get his hands on. Be careful, that the silverware and drinking glasses are sterilized, but let his mind feast on garbage.
  7. Quarrel frequently in the presence of your children. In this way they won’t be shocked when the home is broken up later.
  8. Give a child all the spending money he wants. Never let him earn his own.
  9. Satisfy his every craving for food, drink and comfort. See that every sensual desire is gratified.
  10. Take his part against neighbors, teachers and policemen. They are all prejudiced against your child.
  11. When he gets into real trouble, apologize for yourself by saying, “I never could do anything with him.
  12. Prepare for a life of grief. You will likely have it. [Quoted by Charles Swindoll. You and Your Child. (Nashville, Nelson Pub., 1977) pp. 63-64.]