The Bible tells us that a good name is to be desired above great riches (Prov. 22:1). Scripture also shows us how a broken home can rob us of both our reputation and our wealth. It has many warnings against adultery and other immoral acts that will steal your name and your money. But immorality isn't the only thing that can break up your home.
In Matt. 12:29, Mark 3:27, and Luke 11:21-22, we see that all Satan has to do to beat your family is to bind the strong man (i.e., the husband and father). When we think of binding, we typically think of two things: either tied up with rope or in bondage to sin.
But binding can also mean tied up with things of lesser importance. Distracted. Focused on things that are not God's priorities for our lives. If Satan can get the head of the household focused on anything besides God's priorities, he can wreak havoc on the family. In our day, this is easy. Here are three things that easily distract us and put our families at risk:
(1) Business and busyness -- While work and working hard are not sinful, they can become such a preoccupation that we ignore things on the home front. I've known men who travel regularly, and therefore aren't home very often. But they make home a major priority, even on the road. And I've also known men who worked out of their homes and didn't pay attention to things right in front of their noses. The problem here isn't work and being busy, it's a lack of work on God's priorities.
(2) Comfort -- We all like comfort. It's natural. But when comfort causes us to focus too much on our own desires, rather than the things that protect our family, we put our family at risk. Comfort taken to an extreme is laziness -- and Ecclesiastes tells us what happens when we're too comfortable: "Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks." Your house provides physical protection for your family, but in this case, it's also a symbol of spiritual protection. Extreme comfort will cause you to let that protection erode.
(3) Entertainment -- Whether it's TV, video games, sports, partying, music, or just about anything else that's amusing, entertainment can completely distract you from God's priorities. I know of men who can't break away from their video games to have a decent conversation with their wife. Spend too much time with your favorite distractions, and you're effectively "tied up."
There are many other ways Satan can distract us. So, ultimately, the warning from Scripture is not just to show us that Satan is more powerful than we are, but to show us that the strength to stand firm and protect our family comes only from God. If we don't stand with Christ, He makes it clear that we will be scattered (Luke 11:23) -- and our families left unprotected. |
