Today—as we continue our series on Blueprints for building the home…we’re going to be talking about some things that are required in order for us to endure over the long haul of family life. I believe it would be safe to say this morning—it’s easier to start a building project that it is to finish it. That’s why Jesus said in Luke 14:28 “a person should count the cost before he builds.”

When it comes to building families today—over 30% of them don’t make it to completion. At some point during the process there’s a decision made to stop the work. Christian and non-Christian is the same. When the honeymoon is over—why does the relationship for so many end as well? Why do so many family dreams turn into family disasters?In our society—there’s no shortage of people offering advice on ‘marriage and family’…but is there anyone out there who can offer some real counsel that will truly make a difference? Yes.

I believe we can look to Joshua this morning and find some very practical counsel that will set us on the right plan for building a home that will endure the test of time and the storms of life. Notice if you will 3 principles from Joshua’s life that will help us.

1. Joshua was willing to take charge.  

As we read these verses here at the end of the book of Joshua—we know that he’s a man in the latter years of his life. He’s seen both the good and the bad that life provides. And now—at the end of his life we find Joshua enduring in the work he was called to do…leading. Joshua was willing to take charge both in his public life and his family life. Notice what he says in verse 15, “As for me and my house.” You get the sense that He was a man of conviction.

As a man of conviction Joshua was aware of what his responsibilities were...and he was willing to carry them out. At times he carried them out alone and at other times he sought the assistance of others. Depending on the situation at hand. When Joshua was preparing the people to enter The Promised Land he employed help from the priests, the officers of the people, and representatives from the twelve tribes. But when he dealt with the sin of Achan in chapter 7—he took charge and led the people though the process.

God’s plan for the home includes a role for the husband to be a man who will take charge. A man of conviction. A man like Abraham about whom the Lord said, “For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just” (Gen. 18:19). A man of conviction who is willing to take charge based on the truth of God’s Word.

The challenge for a man like this today is at least two-fold. 1) The temptation to become a control freak, and 2) a popular teaching in our culture today that skews the roles of men and women and says children are smatter than adults anyway. How does a man of conviction endure in the work of building the home facing things like this? By taking charge of his life and family and then doing what is right and just. EX: Ephesians 5:25-6:4.

2. Joshua was willing to choose.

Joshua knew the challenges that false gods presented to families. Strange teaching that leads people into confusion (Gal. 1:7). Twisting the truth. Joshua also knew some of the people living among them could be tempted by the perverse lifestyles these false gods deemed permissible.

Lifestyles that led to judgment falling on Sodom & Gomorrah. Homosexuality, sexual promiscuity. Lifestyles that practiced child sacrifice in an attempt to appease false gods. No value of life. Lifestyles that elevated the individual and lowered personal morality. Does any of this sound familiar?

I’m sure Joshua could still recall in his minds eye Moses standing before the people saying, “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses…now choose life” (Deut. 30:19). Moses was saying what the New Testament still says to us today—God has a plan for our life…but the deceiver offers an alternative to that plan and we must choose wisely. Choose what is right and just.

This is why the apostle Paul tells us in I Thess. 4:7, “God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” Joshua teaches us to choose life. A life that fears the Lord and serves Him with all faithfulness (v14). As we seek to endure in the work of building a home—we’ll be called upon to make a lot of choices. Many of those choices will be difficult and some will have eternal consequences.

The reason hard choices are hard, and tough choices are tough—is because there is a war at times between the Spirit and the flesh in our life (Gal. 5:16-18). So when Joshua said “Now fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully” in verse 14—he’s talking about being obedient to God. Enduring in the work means we must be willing to make choices…choices based on obedience to God.   

Joshua was willing to take charge, Joshua was willing to choose and last of all…

3. Joshua was willing to commit.

For Joshua—commitment was a natural response to faith. Do you remember the first time the children of Israel traveled to The Promised Land they sent twelve spies in to check things out…only two came back with a favorable report. Joshua was one of them. If we’re faithful God will give it to us Nu 14.

We’ve been studying the book of Joshua on Wednesday nights and in our study we’ve learned the first 5 chapters were all about spiritual preparation and commitment to a Holy God and the result of that was victory at Jericho. In God’s will.

Joshua says in verse 15, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” I’m confident that Joshua and Caleb would have thought the challenge that lay ahead of them would be a giant under taking. Equally true—the things that face the Christian home today are of giant proportion. Government – mass media – education - entertainment

The reason Joshua was able to see and enjoy the Promised Land was because he was willing to endure in the work of faithfulness to God. Work that included both he and his family. Let me ask us this—are we willing to take charge of our lives, make the right choices, and commit to serving the Lord?