CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL FAMILIES


  1. Stable Value System
    1. Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go...
      1. A proverb is not an infallible law; it is more like a rule of thumb.
      2. Many faithful Christians have "raised a Cain", yet some Cain's return to God, & retain value system.
      3. "Where did we go wrong?" REMEMBER! Who was Adam's father? Luke 3:38
    2. Training a child begins with the parents- Deuteronomy 4:2; 6:1-2
      1. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 teach thy children diligently teach = "engrave"
      2. vs. 17 diligently keep the commandments- do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord.
      3. vs. 20 What meaneth these things... the Lord our God commanded you?
      4. Ruth and Naomi Ruth 1:16
    3. GO TO W.T. Allison's, "Are the priorities right in your home?"
    4. Don't sell your kids short! If they can sing theme songs and recite commercials... T.J. "BUD"


  2. Love and Adore One Another
    1. The Quality vs. Quantity Time Hoax- Quality time demands Quantity!
      1. Would you leave work at noon and tell your boss, "I gave you four extra-good hours."?
      2. Family time (family devotional, trips to the park, playing in the yard)
      3. Involve your children in as many of your activities as possible- learning through observation
    2. Adoration: loving someone for who he/she is, not for what he/she does.
    3. Burleson Family Reunion: staying in the cabins, pitchin' dollars


  3. Exhibit a servant's attitude toward one another
    1. Parents expect children to exhibit this attitude w/o returning the favor
    2. Both parents and children need to serve and be served, but serving does not mean catering to every whim and trying to make one's life pain-free. DISSERVICE!


  4. Exhibit and Instill a Proper Sense of Humor
    1. God has a sense of humor
      1. God's commandment to Abraham to name his son Isaac- "laughter"
      2. Jesus using exaggeration in the story of the beam and the mote- Matthew 7:3-5
    2. Learn to laugh with others, and not at others.
    3. Learn to laugh at yourself. In doing so, you'll find more folks laughing with you than at you.


  5. Be Open and Transparent
    1. What you see is what you get; no "puttin on the dog" for others.
    2. Doesn't mean we have to bear all on the Oprah-Sally Jesse-Geraldo Show
    3. A truly happy family has nothing to hide. If we spend all our time trying to make others think we have no faults, we waste our time and efforts in misery and hypocrisy.


  6. Be able to Re-label Tragedy
    1. Barbara Johnson: "Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional, so stick a geranium in your hat and be happy!"
      1. lost a son in Vietnam; another in an auto accident cause by a drunk driver; another was a homosexual
      2. husband severely incapacitated in an auto accident, regained everything
      3. she was diagnosed with severe diabetes
  7. These are Good Characteristics of the Successful Christian:


    1. Stable Value System- not on again/off again for the Lord


    2. Loves and Adores his brethren
      1. John 15:12-13, 17
      2. I John 4:20-21


    3. He exhibits a servant's attitude, just as his Lord did- Philippians 2:5-8
      1. Washing the disciples' feet- John 13
      2. Galatians 5:13-15


    4. Exhibits a proper sense of humor
      1. not finding pleasure in the filthiness of the world I John 2:l5-17
      2. Ephesians 5:1-6


    5. Be open and transparent
      1. the Jews took proper time for celebration as well as mourning
      2. Nehemiah's sadness in the presence of the king led to the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and the restoration of the Jewish pride


    6. Be able to re-label tragedy: Romans 8:18,28- Who are these "called ones?"
      1. Romans 1:5-7 speaks of those "called of Christ Jesus, called to be saint"s- prefaced by "obedience to the faith among all nations for his name."
      2. Obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ turns the tragedy of Jesus' death into victory. Matt. 16:26