Recipe for a Happy Home by Eddie Foster

Ephesians 5:22-33 is the text for the message.

If any home is a happy one, it ought to be the Christian’s home.  Sadly, some people live in a house, not a home. Paul never puts women down; in fact, he lifts them up. Many times people concentrate on the submission part forgetting what Paul says to the men.  How does a man love his wife? He has to be willing to sacrifice everything for her, make her wellbeing of primary importance, and care for her as he does his own body. That’s a lot. He actually says twice as much to the men as he does the woman. This scripture tells both how a marriage and home should operate.  What does a home need to be a happy one? I want to share a few things.

The recipe is simple.  Put a good dose of salvation in it. The plan of salvation is made available to everyone. When the Philippian jailer was saved, Paul told him he could be saved as well as all those in his house. When people in the home have Jesus in their heart and him as the head of the house, there will be a happy home. Then put a cup of love on it. In Romans 10 Paul said Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another. Put others ahead of yourself.  It goes a long way to a happy home. Add a good helping of worship.  Hebrews 10 tells us Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. As things are winding down in this world, and we see it everyday, Paul says not to neglect the house of God. Sunday is just like any other day to most people. We need to assemble for public worship. We gather to share our faith. We need each other’s help. There is strength in meeting together. There have been many times I’ve talked to someone who has been out of church a while that he/she has said “I’ve been going through some difficulties.” That’s the time to be in church with our brothers and sisters. Don’t forsake worship. Put in at least a quart of faith. God won’t settle for a mere acknowledgement of who he is. He wants a relationship. God is the Creator of all things. Mankind has never created anything. It all comes from the original and only Creator of the universe. Jesus died on the cross for our sins. It becomes personal when he is invited into our heart as Savior. We are saved by faith in him and what he did. Add in a large handful of forgiveness. Matthew 6 tells us that we are to forgive and if we don’t neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. I’ve had to say “I’m sorry” many times. We are to forgive. If we’re unwilling to do it, God won’t forgive us either. Forgiveness doesn’t come easy. It’s not in our nature; in fact, we want to get even.  We must leave these things in God’s hand.  Add a tablespoon of tenderness. We need to show people we care about them. If they don’t see that, they’ll not believe that God cares. Show your love.  You need a barrel of hope. First Corinthians 13: 13 says And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. I’m glad my sins have been forgiven. My past has been erased. There’re gone. Now hope grows strong giving all of us the promise of a better day. 

God will use us when people see we care.  Let people know God cares and that you care.  God shines through us when we let him. That’s a good recipe for all of us.