Ten Ways to Guarantee Unhappiness

Ten Ways to Guarantee Unhappiness

“Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17 RSV)

James 4:13–17 “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it is a sin for him.”

Introduction As we think about enriching family life, we should be on guard against the peril of neglecting the things that are of supreme importance. Benjamin Franklin said, “A little neglect may breed great mischief; for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by an enemy. All for want of a little care about a horseshoe nail.” By neglecting certain basic ingredients, we can guarantee the breakdown of family values.

I. Neglecting the Bible hurts the family.

Every family should have a Bible—and not for display purposes only. The Bible should be read. It should be loved and reverenced. Its teachings should be obeyed by parents as they seek to set a good example for their children.

II. Neglecting prayer hurts the family.

Each day the family should be led in prayer together as well as each individual member praying privately. These prayers should include adoration of God, confession of sin, expressions of thanksgiving, and intercessions for others

III. Neglecting public worship hurts the family.

The best investment a family can make of its time is attending church. No other investment of a similar amount of time will produce such rich dividends for the family’s well-being, for God’s strength and guidance come in a superlative manner through public worship. Parents should set an example by declaring their reverence for God and their love for the church. Children should not be sent to church; they should be led to church.

IV. Neglecting to build Christian friendships hurts the family.

“He who would have friends must show himself friendly,” said the wise man in the book of Proverbs. Each Christian family should put forth continuous effort to develop friendships with other Christian families. This should be done for mutual helpfulness in times of stress and need. Other families need the blessing that can come to them through you, and you may someday need the strength and help that can come to you through your Christian friends.

V. Neglecting one’s neighbors is to harm the family.

In many parts of the world a neighbor is considered to be a person who lives close by. Jesus defined a neighbor as someone who is in need. We act neighborly when we show compassion for those who are suffering (Luke 10:25–37). Family life can be enriched by meaningful relationships with those who live nearby, and family values will be increased if the family ministers to those in need.

VI. Neglecting the opportunity to serve others hurts family life.

Jesus warned about the person who hears the Word but then lets the cares of the world and preoccupation with riches choke the Word so that it becomes unfruitful (Matt. 13:22). It is exceedingly easy in our materialistic and competitive society for parents to become so pressured by material values that they neglect to give time to their family. Time for the church and community also suffers, which in turn has a negative impact on family values

VII. Neglecting to become a tither hinders family values.

Most believers who are exposed to the teachings of God’s Word learn that they are supposed to return to God a portion of their income. Some families are so pressured by the desire for economic security and possessions that they postpone becoming significant givers. They do this to their own spiritual impoverishment and to their economic misfortune. People were made to be givers. Each of us needs to let God enter into our economic affairs by acknowledging God’s ownership and our trusteeship by giving a minimum of a tithe to the Lord’s work

VIII. Neglecting to praise and thank God hurts family life.

A significant economic event took place in the life of a poor family. The father was able to secure a loan, making it possible for him to provide a farm home for his family. At the first meal following this good news, the mother suggested that it would be appropriate to thank God and to praise him. It wasn’t the family’s custom to pray together, but the father mustered up the courage to offer thanks before the meal, and prayer became a regular part of the family routine, enriching the lives of the children as well as the parents

IX. Neglecting the Lord’s Day hurts the family.

As one-tenth of our income given to God indicates his ownership, so the dedication of one-seventh of our days for rest and worship emphasizes our spiritual nature. People were not made to live by bread alone. The Lord’s Day should be special for God and for the family

X. Neglecting to respond to the indwelling Spirit impoverishes family life.

Conversion to Christ brings with it the gift of God’s Holy Spirit as a personal presence and power in the life of each believer. When there are Christians in the home, they need to make a proper response to the Holy Spirit so that all of family life might be lived under the grace and guidance of God. To neglect the Holy Spirit is to live an impoverished life

Conclusion This message has been rather negative in emphasis. It has pointed out some dangers to family values. I hope a positive response can be made to a negative emphasis. It is said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. A conscious and continuous effort must be put forth by each family against the peril of neglecting the basic essentials that produce happiness in the family