The Coolidge examiner., 1939-05-18


with thee.-Leviticus 1919.
A home is more than house, and
yet people live as though it were not
true. They build attractive houses,
fill them with comfortable furnish
ings, and think they have a home,
no matter how they may live. God
is forgotten, pleasure becomes the
chief object in life, and money is
desired because it buys pleasure.
Intoxicants are freely used both out
side and inside the home, apparent
ly with no thought of their destruc-
tive influence.
Alcohol burned in stove produces
heat, in an engine it produces pow
er, in a man it produces disgrace
and disease, and in the home it pro-
duces sorrow, suffering. and ulti-
mately destruction. Why should the
decent and intelligent people of
America supinely submit to the dew
astation of this juggernaut, the liq-
uor traffic? What are you doing
about it?
The lesson for today presents
three factors which make for happi-
ness in the home.
I. Loyalty to Family Standards
Ger. 35:5-10.
When the traditional standards of
family are good and right in the
sight of God, they afford worthy
rallying point for the younger gen.
GRAFTON. The Rechabites were obe-
dient to the instructions Of their
forefathers. The prophet had SUBJ
jected them to test (not a tempta-
ton, for he did not expect them to
falD in the presence of the Jews
and in the great city of Jerusalem.
They were surrounded by the unac-
cuStomed luxury and temptations of
the city, and now the prophet tries
them further by saying, Drink ye
wine" But they were not afraid to
be thought old-fashioned or queer,
for they knew that the customs of
their fathers were good (see Jer.
6:16), and they stood by them.
To depend on that which is good
and noble in the past of our people
or family. is a sign neither of weak
ness nor ignorance, but rather of
wisdom and strength. What kind of
family standards will your boy and
mine look back to? What of the lit
tie baby who lay in his buggy while
the young mother helped her hus-
band pick out the bottle of whisky
in the store window which he then
went in and bought? When l see
such things my heart burns within
me against this wicked business
which destroys all of the finest in
men and in their homes.
III. Accuracy in Daily Living (Eph.
5:15-2D.
THE Greek word rendered cir
cumspectly' ". 15 may be more
closely and simply rendered 'accu-
rately.' The thought given is that of
painstaking attention to details, un-
der a sense of their Importance; a
remembrance not only in general
but in particular of the duties of the
Christians walk" (Moule).
Every phrase in this section of our
lesson is overfowing with meaning
but we cannot here refer to them
all. Note the temperance applica-
ton. The man who walks accurate
ly will be wise" ". 15) and will
'be filed with the Spirit ". 18.
The inaccurate walker is a fool
". 15), and one of his follies may
be in being drunk with wine" ".
10. But there is far more in this
passage. Spirit-filled people know
the will of God and therefore re-
deem the time. They cultivate that
delightful spiritual exercise of home
religion known as hymn singing.
Have you tried that lately? Gather
the family or friends around the or
gan or piano. Turn off the ever
present radio for a few minutes.
Open the old hymn book and sing.
Don't overlook thankfulness in verse
20, and then try that golden recipe.
III. Unity In the Home (Eph.
6:1-N.
A united family is obviously i'm
possible where one member or more
gives his time and money and very
life to booze. You know and I know
that it just does not work. Think
of the havoc thus wrought not only
in the lives of the parents, but
particularly in the lives and char
acters of the children.
Let Christ reign in the home and
there will be unity. Children will
realize that it is right to obey their
godly parents. They will honor and
cherish father and mother, and God
will reward them for it (vv. 2, 3;
also Exod. 20: 12). But what is more,
fathers will be wise enough not to
| provoke their children to wrath.
Much of the trouble in our homes is
caused by disobedient children, but
sometimes I think even more of it
is caused by unwise parents. The
children need nurture and admoni-
ton, but that can be done in kind
ness and with constructive results
if we seek the Lords help. Father,
mother, let me plead with you that
you permit no interest in business,
cOpial life Or avon chtIrpb IUOrL IN