Thoughts for this Lord's Day [fifteen]

For the Love of the Family Economy

As I sit here with my steaming hot cup of peppermint tea and honey, I ponder the subject of the family economy.

Last December, I listened to the Family Economics Conference MP3's from the years 2010 and 2011. While we were actually at last year's conference, I was unable to hear many of the messages because I was photographing the event. However, making use of my little iPod, I downloaded all of the messages and listened whenever I was able. (It only took me a few weeks to get through them all; there are 39 messages in total.)

Before I listened to the wisdom shared on these MP3's, I thought that I had a good idea of the importance of the family economy. We have, after all, been nurturing our own family economy for the last several years. Our book business and ministry have flourished, by God's grace. However, while listening to the messages, my heart and eyes were opened even wider.

I listened to each message with great interest, amazed by the beauty of God's design for the family economy. Long ago, vibrant family economies were common. In today's world, each family member has a separate job, class, activity, or ministry that consumes a good portion of their time. This does little to foster unity between fathers, mothers, and children. Families no longer work alongside one another as they used to. Family units are stronger together than they are apart. How could we have lost sight of something so precious and valuable as the family economy?

Our homes should be places of industry and productivity. They should be buzzing with ingenuity, resourcefulness, and life. Each family member brings their own strengths and weaknesses to the table. The economy may only be one aspect of the home, but it is still important, and should be integrated into the whole of family life.

I have seen beautiful examples of families that have embraced a Biblical vision for the family economy. The father and mother work together, complimenting one another in their distinct roles while raising their children in the ways of the Lord. These examples are rare flowers. As Kevin Swanson frequently says, “We're not a one-income family. We're not a two-income family. We're a seven income family!”

The world talks about letting children “just be children” for an extended number of years. “Boys and girls acting maturely and responsibly at an early age? You'll rob them of their childhood!” they say. The Lord teaches just the opposite throughout Scripture. Children, even very young children, should be an active part of the vibrant family economy.

I am realizing more and more how essential it is for children to learn the value of work at an early age. They should also be allowed to “be children” while they are young, but growing up should be thought of as a wonderful thing, not a thing to be dreaded. Working unto the Lord, for the furtherance of His Kingdom, should be sought after with fervor. A two-year-old is not too young to learn how to work, following Mommy around the house, helping her with little tasks she gives. The work the child does will be sloppy at first, but will blossom in time. The principle issue is the heart. A child who is taught to love doing the Lord's work at an early age will be a happy, responsible child.

I have seen this lived out in many families. Children who work toward the good of the family are the happiest children I have ever met, even (or should I say especially) when they have fewer material possessions than most. On the other hand, I have babysat for quite a few families whose children have everything they could ever want. These children have no responsibilities, no work ethic, and no part in the family economy. Consequently, they are whiny, bored, and miserable. I do realize that there are a few exceptions out there, but I have come across none thus far. God's ways are always the best ways; ignoring His precepts will not yield good fruit or peace filled contentment.

Mr. Swanson also speaks about the incredible amount of schooling children are given without practical application. This may be the norm now, but it was not always so; we have grown accustomed to it over a long period of time. On average, high school and college graduates have precious few life skills when they are finished with their traditional schooling.  Schooling does not necessarily equal education.  Mr. Swanson draws the example of learning how to ride a bike. You take the classes Bike 101, Bike 102, and Bike 103, you learn the workings of the bike, and you learn what to do when you fall off of the bike. You learn about the bike for 12 long years, and at the end of those years you have yet to actually get on the bike!

Do you see what he is driving at? Children (and students) are given much knowledge without wisdom and application.  Consequently, they have few life skills and little direction. As the Scripture teaches, “knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth” (1 Corinthians 8:1).

How special it is when a family can work together. God has not given this opportunity to every family, and I am certainly not suggesting that it is wrong for a father to work a job outside of the home, but is it ideal?  There are certain blessings that come when a family is able to work together on a daily basis. I have seen firsthand what unique blessing arises when each family member is able to work at home toward a common goal. The home that is teeming with Christ-honoring labor, love, and loyalty is like no other. It is certainly a good goal to keep in mind as we go about our daily lives.

If you have access to the Family Economics Conference messages, there are two I would particularly recommend that you listen to. Though they are all excellent, these two really stood out to me. They transformed the way I thought about the home economy. Suffice it to say, they were challenging, encouraging, and life changing. Both were spoken at the 2011 conference.

The titles are:

   “Fruitful Families in the Ashes” by: Kevin Swanson

      and

   “Home Education or Home Economy” by: Doug Phillips

Though I would highly recommend listening to all of them (“The Proverbs 31 Husband and Wife” by Doug Phillips is another of my favorites), those two messages will do a wonderful job in shining some light on the beauty of the family economy while broadening your horizon. They certainly encouraged me. Please listen to them, if you can! I'm sure that you will be stirred up, challenged, and blessed.

Is it time to rethink the way we operate as families? What is the standard in which God has called us to? Do our plans for the future reflect His will?  How could we improve our plans to better line up with His Word?

Be of good courage and trust in the Lord!  He is with you always.

“If then God so clothe the grass,

which is to day in the field,

and to morrow is cast into the oven;

how much more will he clothe you,

O ye of little faith?”

-Luke 12:28