Gtcotr/ls102112
According
to the scriptures, (Matthew 18:17), the local Church is the highest authority
on earth. However:
God ordained the family before He ordained the Church.
That
which is good for the family is good for the Church and that which is harmful
to the family is harmful for the Church. (Family First Principle)
The Family
First Principle: “I make my family my first priority and I make Jesus the first priority
of my family.”
Today
we are going to relegate the discussion about family to the Bible teaches is
best for the “immediate family”. For the sake of today’s teaching allow me to
define the “immediate family” and lay some foundation for the “immediate family
structure”.
The Immediate Family: Husband/Dad; Wife/Mom; Children
The
Immediate Family Structure:
·
God
invented family – He holds the patent – only He can define
·
The
Original/Traditional Family
o 1 Man marries 1
Woman – (Monogamous Covenant)
o Joined by God –
Undivided by man
o Replentishing the
earth with offspring
o Nurturing &
Admonition until the Children are ready to
·
Leave
and Cleave
o Become extended
family
o Begin their
immediate family
o Continue to Honor
and Respect Parents/In-Laws
Memory Verse: Matthew 19:5 For this
reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and
the two shall become one flesh.
One
common family problem is lack of respect of Family
Boundaries
·
Either
by an immediate or extended family member or a friend
·
Creates/Allows/Supports
dysfunction within the family structure
How
do we know if extended family members or personal friends are detrimental to
the immediate family?
Un-Left
Family & Too Close Friends
1.
When they don’t respect or support the immediate family
1 Samuel 18:3 Then
Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
David
had a best friend named Jonathan. And even though David and Jonathan had a
covenant friendship which, according to David’s account, (2 Samuel 1:26),
surpassed the love of women, nonetheless David would not allow himself to come
between Jonathan and Jonathan’s father, King Saul.
2.
When they begin to divide the immediate family
Proverbs 27:17 As iron
sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Love
does not divide family – Love respects family boundaries, is a blessing to
family and makes friends better, not worse.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do
not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good manners.”
3.
When the Spouse or Parent says they are too close
Ephesians 6
1 Children, obey your parents
in the Lord, for this is right.
2 "Honor your father and
mother," which is the first commandment with promise:
3 "that it may be well
with you and you may live long on the earth."
4 And you, fathers, do not
provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and
admonition of the Lord.
