The aged women likewise, that they be
in behaviour as becometh holiness,
not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
That they may teach the young women to be sober,
to love their husbands, to love their children,
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands,
that the word of God be not blasphemed.
The Heirlooms of a Christian Home
Angela B. Trenholm
March 2006
Part I
The Heirloom of Salvation
Treasured Heirlooms
Lilacs and Butterflies Spectacular 2006
By faith Noah,
being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear,
prepared an ark to the saving of his house;
by the which he condemned the world
and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Hebrews 11:7
Do you have a treasured possession/heirloom that was given
you by someone dear to your heart? Maybe it was passed down through several
generations, or maybe it’s a recent gift, or perhaps you have a sentimental
object you hope to pass on to your own children, grandchildren, treasured
friend…
A necklace? A photo? A ring? ….
Doesn’t the mere thought of it invoke precious memories, and by passing it on
to someone else, is it not the same goal? There is nothing wrong with keeping
mementoes around as reminders. We are forgetful people and those simple
objects are an easy way to jog our memories and to help maintain special
bonds.
My husband has a beautiful, large, cobalt blue cup that his mother gave him.
It is trimmed in gold and emblazoned with the official insignia of his
favorite car manufacturer. When she died August 2004, he took it out of common
use and placed it on a shelf as a reminder of the precious woman who gave him
physical life. The cup isn’t really valuable, but the memories it triggers are
priceless. I am sure he hopes to pass it on as an heirloom to one of our
children some day, and I am sure it will be precious to them too as they love
their grandmother.
The Bible has many references to heirs in the physical and spiritual sense,
but for the purpose of this lesson, let’s focus on the spiritual applications.
As you read, keep the following in mind:
What kind of spiritual heirlooms do you want to leave behind for your
family?
Heirs to the Promise:
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise. Galatians 3:29
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the
immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath… Hebrews 6:17
Heirs According to the Hope of Eternal Life:
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the
hope of eternal life. Titus 3:7
Heirs to the Grace of Life:
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour
unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the
grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 1Peter 3:7
Heir of Righteousness:
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear,
prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the
world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Hebrews 11:7
Here is the text that really struck me as I prepared this lesson.
….prepared an ark to the saving of his house…
Noah spent 120 years focused on one task: Building the ark to save his family
from the flood. He endured ridicule from all around him, yet he pressed on,
and to quote a familiar saying, we know “the rest of the story”. Not only did
he save his family, but the Bible also says he “heir of the righteousness
which is by faith.”
Part II
The Heirloom of Proper Training
It is important to spend some play time with
our children, keep a clean house, make sure the schooling is in order, but it
is so easy to get so side-tracked on these other things that we sometimes
forget the main goal we should be focusing on: that each of our children be
“an heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
We cannot see our children’s heart’s for the
certainty of their salvation, but we can put a full effort into making sure
they have been taught and trained in the Word of God.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt
meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to
all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and
then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of
them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and
when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 6:7
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in
the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy
gates: Deuteronomy 11:20
I would love have verses displayed all over
the house, but have never been able to invest in frames. I’m beginning to
think that even a piece of paper would do fine, especially since that’s all
they had in OT times anyway. Better some than none! The more we can have God’s
Word before our children, the better.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not
depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
Part III
The Heirloom of Time
Time Together:
I did not grow up in a Christian home, but my
parents did teach me some important truths about families needing to spend
time together. We went camping and played lots of games growing up, and when I
look back, those special times smooth over some of the very difficult and
hurtful times.
As I watch our children grow into their teens now, I know I have not spent as
much personal time with them as I should have. I cannot change the past, but I
can strive now to do all I can to build precious memories that will become a
storehouse of heirlooms to smooth over any of the mistakes I have made along
the way. So as I write this, do not let Satan convince you that I have not
been through this. I am going through it now, and I struggle daily to get the
right balance. It is my hope that I can be a help and encouragement to others
struggling with this.
Time in God’s Service:
As children of God, we are commanded to be
witnesses and help draw others to the Saviour. Satan would deceive you
into believing that being a stay at home Mom (SAHM) and a soulwinner do
not go hand in hand.
Tell me, why not?
Soulwinning time can be the greatest family time you have ever had!
Imagine working together to see that bus kid (and family) get saved, or
your husband’s boss, the neighbor, the sweet little old lady or man down
the street!
What a glorious spiritual heirloom to leave to our children!
I understand, it is hard to get everyone gathered up for church
soulwinning and it doesn’t often seem to work, but how about bringing your
children grocery shopping instead of leaving them home with Dad? 12 years
ago, I would have Sarah (2 yr old) in the cart and would pull the twins
stroller. For a few years, I used that to God’s advantage as I realized
something very important: Twins attract attention! So I used that as a
witnessing tool too. But then I got tired, lazy, backslidden really, and
for several years, did everything I could to go shopping alone to have
some “quiet” time. I hated taking them out as I had had “my fill” of
“dragging” wee ones around. It was so much "easier" to get groceries done by myself. I
realize now how wrong I was and now I love having my girls with me. They
are thrilled to be able to hand out Gospel tracts and will now witness as
well, even to those whom adults would sometimes cringe at. I’m saddened by
the memories of my eldest, Sarah, begging me as a small child to go hand
out tracts, but felt we did not have the time. I had lots of time, but I
was being selfish with it. When my precious children are gone, I will have
more “quiet time” than I will ever want.
The lesson, in particular the last part, has been a big eye opener to me
of some of the areas I was lacking in and, with the Lord’s help, I hope to
rectify many errors. I hope it has been a challenge to you as well.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own
selves. James 1:22
I re-itterate the question given at the beginning:
What kind of spiritual heirlooms do you want
to leave behind for your family?
This last thought does not fall into my
outline, but I know I can’t leave it out.
Are we preparing an ark to the saving of our homes, or are we leaving them
out to be swept away by the flood of corruption and ungodliness that this
world has to offer?
- Angela Trenholm
By faith Noah,
being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear,
prepared an ark to the saving of his house;
by the which he condemned the world
and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Hebrews 11:7
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