Who Doesn’t Want a Perfect Family?

• Spouses who fulfill their God-given roles. Eph. 5:22ff• Faithful children. Prov. 22:6• If children misbehave: they are taught, warned,

rebuked and punished…leading them back to faithfulness.

• If spouse is unfaithful: godly example by faithful spouse turns unfaithful back to God. Cp. 1 Pet. 3:1ff

The Look of Perfection

• Externals look good:– Parents and children “go to church”; participate in Bible classes;

etc. – Parents have successful jobs/children successful school or sports

lives.• Some Christians might look at this family as having it all… no

problems, “a perfect family”.• But, looks can be deceiving.

REALITY CHECK: No Such Thing as a Perfect Family

• Most husbands/wives struggle through healthy marriages, let alone broken ones. Cp. Gen. 3:14

• Most parents/children struggle in their ever evolving relationship.

• ALL Families are made up of sinners (Rom. 3:23): thus it is expected that families deal with: rebellion, boundary testing, spouse infidelity, trust issues, lies, greed, selfishness, hateful speech/behavior, etc.

God – The Perfect Parent

• He teaches diligently what pleases Him.• He is patient with His children.• He disciplines: rebukes and chastens.

Heb. 12:7-11And yet His children go astray!

Why should godly parents expect differently?

Shattering the Proverbs 22:6 Myth

• It is generally true that if you “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

• This is not a guaranteed promise. • Imagine treating proverbs as promises:– No faithful person would get sick/harmed. Prov. 3:7-8– All husbands/children would naturally praise the worthy

wife/mother. Prov. 31:28

NOTE: You can have a Biblically Healthy Family

• Next week we will look at the Rechabites.• We will see what CAN happen when ALL

family members ban together as one unit.• We will see God’s blessing in such a family.