House Rules

Leviticus 27:14 “‘And when a man dedicates his house to be holy to the LORD, then the priest shall set a value for it, whether it is good or bad; as the priest values it, so it shall stand.”

The way a home is established will determine the pathway it leads all who inhabit it. If it is established in conflict then by conflict a family is divided. If a home is firmly planted upon the foundation of Christ Jesus, then it is upon that rock it shall not be moved.

The evaluation of a home in ancient times was affirmed or denied by the priest of the Lord. The priest represented God to the people and it was by God’s standard of Holiness it was evaluated. Today, our high priest is Jesus and it is by His Kingdom that Jesus affirms that which we hold as our highest goal. It is a future heavenly home that He is establishing for His people and He will establish our home today if we will only let Him.

Hebrews 5:9-10 “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”

There was a man named Martin Luther, a 16th century Augustinian monk who confronted the corrupt Catholic church of his day and helped in development of the reformation.

Martin Luther coined a term he named ‘Haustafel’ which literally means ‘House rules’, or a table of rules, made for a christian home. These rules eventually became a summary table of specific actions members of each domestic pair in a household are expected to perform.

The Haustafel

Colossians 3:18-4:1 identifies the earliest traceable form of the christian household code with later development found in Ephesians 5:21-6:9, Titus 2:4-10, and 1 Peter 2:18-3:7. The main foci of the Household Codes were toward husband/wife, parent/child, and master/slave relationships.

The breakdown in christian homes today is directly related to the failure of maintaining and holding godly standards as a priority.

A review of Colossians 3 & 4 gives us God’s view of relationships:

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

“Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.“

“Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.“

“Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.“

Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.“

Each command has a purpose, each relationship a divine order. There are certain spiritual principles that unfold when the household honors the Lord in relationships.

The art of Submission

In each of the relationships described there is a form of submission that is occurring. Husbands submitting love to their wives, while wives submit their respect to the husband. Children honoring their parents in submitting to their authority, while fathers in humility recognize their children’s value as people and not exasperating them by the way they rule. Bondservants submitting to the authority of their supervisors as good workers and the master showing respect to those under their care.

Peter later reflected on these truths while reminding believers that it was God they were ultimately subjected to and thus it was by His authority they were to show love toward one another.

1 Peter 2:11-12 “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

Submission is not a value the world holds dear…

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, a radical feminist representative in Congress was quoted as saying

“The reason women are critiqued for being too loud or too meek, too big or too small, too smart to be attractive or too attractive to be smart, is to belittle women out of standing up publicly. The goal is to critique into submission and that applies to anyone challenging power.”

A.O.C.

A conclusive statement like this is meant to pigeonhole those who hold godly values as outdated, chauvinistic, or simply a way to devalue someone’s opinion so that they appear as being hateful and repressive. The 21st century response to anything that doesn’t affirm its agenda is to label it as hate.

A biblical mandate for relationships honors the individual while recognizing their value in the roles God has placed them in. Jesus modeled the standard by the way He instructed His people and the way He lived it out in His life.

John 13:3-5 “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”

Jesus modeled what a standard of submission looks like, He left a position of power and took upon Himself the position of a servant. Now He has called His people to follow His example as well. Regardless of culture or circumstances, godly principles remain steadfast. The world fails to show respect for others in how they live, but believers are called to a different standard for the purpose of honoring the Lord and establishing His Kingdom.

When believers live by the Word of God and Jesus is lifted up as the High Priest, the Lord is King of the house.

True believers worship the Lord in righteousness and truth. Honoring Him in relationships brings their homes into alignment with His greater purpose.

Psalm 128:3 “Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.”

Blessing flows from the homes of the righteous—they honor the Lord by the legacy they leave.

Leaving a Legacy

The long-lasting impact of being found faithful resonates in the children and grandchildren of God’s people. Leaving a legacy of faithfulness starts with humility, knowing that God’s greater purpose is more valuable than your own agenda.

Men often want respect, women desire to be cherished, children need nurturing, instruction, and clearly defined boundaries. Managers or owners of businesses want faithful workers, dependable, honest, and trustworthy. Employees want to be valued, they want their work to be meaningful, and noteworthy.

How should the church represent such values in society?

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.”

All good things come from God. All good works are found in Him. A faithful marriage is the result of the Lord binding it together in love. A legacy of faith in children is born out of a consistency of loving leadership and nurturing in their lives. A rapport in your work is accomplished by honoring the Lord first in your work.

Faithfulness in each of these elements of life are given only for a moment. Many broken marriages have irreparable damage. Children grow up far too fast, and jobs are only for a season of life.

How we live today will affect our tomorrow.

If the church of the living God cannot practice such noble and godly ambitions, then who will?

The strength of any society is first found in the family. For those who are single or may have no connection to an immediate family, the family of God becomes their source of connection.

Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

For others, being a good uncle or aunt, a faithful sister or brother, or simply showing honor to parents even if it seems they don’t deserve it. Faithfulness honors the Lord, it honors His commandments, and changes the narrative passed down from poor examples.

Matthew 19:19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Believers have been redeemed from death to life, they are no longer their own. They have been bought with a price and now they exemplify Christ to the world.

If you are called by God’s name, if Jesus is written upon your life, then honor the Lord faithfully in your household, in your community, and among believers…and you will know great reward.