“As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” [Joshua 24:15]
These words contain the holy resolution of Joshua, a most devout man of God, who reminded the Israelites in a most moving, affectionate speech what great things God had done for them. He then draws a proper inference from what he had been saying; and informs them, in the most pressing terms, that since God has been so very gracious to them, they could do no less, than out of gratitude for such special favors and mercies, dedicate both themselves and their families to his service. “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.” And by the same captivating motive the prophet Samuel later enforces their obedience to the commandments of God, 1 Sam. 12:24, listen, “Be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” But then, that they might not excuse themselves (as too many might be apt to do) by his giving them a bad example, or think he was laying heavy burdens on them, while he himself did not lift one finger to help, he tells them in the text, that whatever attention they might pay to the doctrine he had been preaching, yet he (as all ministers ought to do) was resolved to live up to and practice it himself: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
This commendable resolution of Joshua, is absolutely necessary for every true son of Joshua, that is entrusted with the care and direction of a family in our day: and, if it was ever appropriate for ministers to preach, or for people to put family-religion into practice, it is never more so than in the present age; since it is greatly to be feared, that out of those many households that call themselves Christians, there are only a few that serve God in their respective families as they should.
It is indeed true, visit our churches, and you may perhaps see something of the form of godliness still surviving among us; but even that is scarcely to be found within our own homes. So that if the blessed angels were to come, as they did in the age of the patriarchs, and observe our spiritual condition at home, wouldn’t they be tempted to say as Abraham said to Abimilech, “There is surely no fear of God in this place.” [Genesis 20:11]
How and when such a general neglect of family-religion first began to spread over the Christian world, is difficult to determine. As for the early Christians, I am positive it was not so with them: No, they did not falsely believe that religion was to be confined solely to their public worship at church; but, on the contrary, behaved with such godliness and exemplary holiness in their private families, that the Apostle Paul often refers to their house as a church, saying, “Give my greetings to Nympha and the church in her house.” And, I believe, we must forever despair of seeing this spirit of holiness revived in the world, until we see a revival of genuine family religion; and persons unanimously resolving with Joshua, in the words of the text, “As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
And from these words, I will insist on these three things:
I. First, That it is the duty of every head of a family and household to take care, that not only he himself, but also that those committed to his charge, “serve the Lord.”
II. Secondly, I will endeavor to show “how” the head of the family and his household ought to serve the Lord. And,
III. Thirdly, I will offer some reasons, in order to stimulate all family leaders, with their respective households, to serve the Lord in the manner that will be recommended.
First, let me show you that it is the duty of every head of the family and household to take care, that not only he himself, but also that those committed to his charge, must serve the Lord.
And this is apparent, if we consider that every head of a family must look upon himself as obliged to act in three capacities—as a prophet, to instruct: as a priest, to pray for and with; as a king, to govern, direct, and provide for them. It is indeed true, that the latter of these, their kingly office, is one in which they are not so frequently deficient in, (no in this they are usually too attentive) but as for the former two, their priestly and prophetic office, they often ignore such things. But however indifferent some family leaders may be about it, they may be assured, that God will require of them a proper discharge of these offices. For if, as the apostle argues, “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever;” to what greater degree of apostasy must he have committed, who has no thought to provide for the spiritual welfare of his family!
But further, persons are generally very liberal in their criticisms of the minister, and think they rightly blame the conduct of that minister who is not careful to watch over the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made him overseer: but isn’t every head of a family, also liable to the same criticism, who gives no thought for those souls that are committed too his charge? For every house is as it were a little congregation, every family head (as we have observed) is a priest, every family is a flock; and if any of them perish through the neglect of the head of that family, then God will require their blood at his hands.
If a minister failed in the public teaching of his congregation, and excuses himself by saying, that he had enough to do in working out his own salvation with fear and trembling, without concerning himself with that of others; would you not be apt to think such a minister, to be like the unjust judge, “One that neither feared God, nor regarded man?” And yet, odious as such a character would be, it is no worse than that head of a family deserves, who thinks himself obliged to care for his own soul, without paying any regard to the souls of his household. For (as was hinted above) every house is as it were a church, and every family head is concerned to secure, as much as is within his power, the spiritual prosperity of every one under his roof, just as the minister is obligated to look after the spiritual welfare of every individual person under his charge.
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
