Walking with God .com - helping families walk with God and share their faith with one another
The difference between a house and a home
There is a difference between a house and a home. A house is a very physical thing, made up of such things as timber, bricks, mortar, carpet, and furniture. On the other hand, a home consists of people - especially families.
For Christians, a home is a place where Jesus is welcomed into their midst. In a home where Jesus is welcome, He is put first. Jesus becomes the centre of the family's life. The parents, together with their children, talk often about the Lord. They pray together and seek His face.
In New Zealand it is sad to see so much emphasis being put on houses, yet so little on homes. Many people are taking on huge debt to acquire a house. Some young couples cannot afford to have children because they are paying off their mortgages. Others put their little children into day care centres because the mothers can't afford to finish working. The mortgage has to be paid.
Proverbs 3:33 says this: "The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous." It is tragic to see some Christians getting caught up in today's secular society, making a house more important than a home.
It is, however, wonderful to see some Christian families making the choice to put a home before a house. Such families may buy a modest house, thus refusing to take on massive debt. Others choose to live in a rented house so that building a godly home becomes their priority. Such families are welcoming the Lord into their midst.
These families invariably discover that they have more money to invest in the things that make for a close knit family, perhaps enjoying such things as a camping or fishing trip together.
- by Colin Pyle
Click and read more messages/sermons.
Print this page