“What Have They Seen in Thy House?” by Angela Wisdom
In 2 Kings 20: 12 – 16 we read about King Hezekiah being visited by a group of men from the King of Babylon, Berodachbaladan. Hezekiah had been sick and the king of Babylon sent him letters and a present.
Although these were men from a wicked nation, Hezekiah hearkened to them (he was obedient and attentive) and showed them everything in his house – his gold, his silver, every precious thing. There was nothing he didn’t show them. Later, Isaiah the prophet came to him and asked him, (verse 15) “What have they seen in thy house?”.
Hezekiah answered Isaiah, “All the things in my house they have seen: there is nothing among my treasures than I have not showed them.”
Because of this, Isaiah told Hezekiah that the day was going to come when all that was in his house, and all that his fathers had stored up, would be carried into Babylon. Nothing would be left.
We need to ask the same question that Isaiah asked Hezekiah, ‘What have they seen in thy house?” What does the church and the world observe and see in our house? Not only what they see, but the things we’ll be judged for and have consequences for, just as Hezekiah had consequences in his life and family.
The very first thing God established on earth in the book of Genesis was the home. The home is the very thing that shapes us as individuals, and very often determines what our eternal destiny will be. Our homes should be a place where love, kindness and fellowship is shown, but many times today the home is just a place to eat and sleep. Fathers, mothers, and children each go their separate ways, and are way too busy to have time for one another.
The BBE translation of the Bible puts Rom. 14:7 in this way: As long as we have life we are living to the Lord; or if we give up our life it is to the Lord; so if we are living, or if our life comes to an end, we are the Lord's.
In other words, none of us lives to ourselves. We are the Lord’s, and we must live as he wants us to live. We have an influence. We must be concerned with what others have “seen in our house”.
All of us understand that God expects us to study (2 Tim. 2:15). Can this be said of us? Many times we find the time to read all kinds of reading material, but do we find the time to study the scriptures? Do we train our children to study the scriptures? Daily? The best thing to prevent sin known to man is to put God’s word in their hearts (Psa 119:11).
If we have children, do we look for and read (before they do) good books that will build them up? Prov.23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
The same thing goes for what we and our children see on the internet. The things we see and read can determine where our heart is. All of us are bombarded daily on TV, radio, and the internet with ungodly scenes and words. As a parent we need to police what our children see and read. As Christians we need to make sure we are not delving into these things ourselves. Our homes should be a haven where we put God’s word, and His ways first. Too many children are left to themselves. Do not think “my child won’t do this or that” – too many have thought that to their own, and their children’s destruction.
Too many homes have given up trying to put God first. Children are left at home to fend for themselves. They become curious and delve into things that are ungodly and wicked. Children are left to tend to children, with parents not anywhere around to guide and instruct. And then people wonder, “Why did my child go wrong?”, “Why did he get involved in porn, cults, hate groups, fornication, drinking, drugs, incest, or other such sins?”. As Prov. 29:15 says: The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
God wants us to be careful what we put “in our house”. Paul told the Philippians in Phil. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Take a look at what is in thy house. Is it true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, worthy of virtue and praise? Do the things we do instruct in what are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report? These things are the things of God. If we have not these things in our house, we have some work to do.
What have others “seen in thy house”?
We live in an age when worldliness and lack of good morals have invaded the church and the home. What have others “seen in thy house”?
Do our neighbors and children see us wear immodest clothing, smoke, take God’s name in vain, curse, drink alcoholic beverages, and all manner of other sins? Do we make excuses? “Oh, I’m just going to the mailbox dressed like this.” ; “I only smoke in private.”; “I watch my language around the preacher or people I know disapprove.” ; “I only social drink.”
What have others “seen in thy house”?
The destruction of the home results because we have disregarded God’s ways. When we try to put God and His Kingdom first in every respect we will find our home is not only what God wants, but it will become a blessing to us.
What have others seen in our house concerning our relationship to our husbands and our role as a wife and mother? When we put God’s ways first, we will recognize that God is our head, and that Man is the head of the home ( I Cor. 11:3). The woman is the “keeper of the home” (I Tim. 5:14).
Too many times we push our little girls to succeed in high school, college and in getting a career, and neglect the fact that our little girls will grow up and also get married and have children. We need to prepare them for a work that is much more important than any career in the world. We need to prepare them to be a wife and mother. We need to teach our daughters that the Christian woman respects the headship of her husband because God gave him that role. We need to teach our daughters and prepare them to be keepers at home. Train them to be able to cook, clean and wash clothes. Teach them modesty (this has to be taught – they don’t automatically know how to dress, walk and sit) (I Tim. 2: 9 – 10). Teach them that these things are a high calling of God, and their God-given role. This is not popular. This is not what the world wants your daughters to be. But, it is what God wants them to be.
We need to teach our sons that he will be the head of his home (I Cor. 11:3). We need to teach him that man is to love his wife as his own flesh (Eph. 5:28). We need to teach him that he is the breadwinner (I Tim. 5:8). We are to teach him that he is her protector (Eph. 5:28).
When we teach our children God’s order for the home, and to love the things of God, then we’ll see them grow in the things of God.
What have others “seen in thy house”?
What have others seen in our house concerning how we treat others? Do we look to the ways of others? (Phil. 2:1 – 5). The only way the world can see that Jesus has come into the world is through our life. The world doesn’t read God’s word. The world depends on us to show them Jesus and His influence through the lives that we live.
John 15:17 says: These things I command you, that ye may love one another. Such a small verse, but such a big meaning to it. Do we believe it? It is not optional – it is a command. Either we will learn to love one another, or we’ll lose our souls in hell. If we don’t love our brothers and sisters then we don’t have the love of God in us (I John 4:20).
Do we consider how the things we do affect others? (Heb. 10:24). We need to consider the things we do and say, and consider what kind of an effect they will have on others. Am I provoking my brothers and sisters to love and good works by the things I do and say? This is serious business because it can determine our eternal destiny.
Are we servants of one another (Gal. 5:13)? Are we willing to take a lesser or unimportant role in our relationships with others, or do we always want our way? Jesus said: Luke 14: 7 - 11 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Children need to be taught the humility and obedience that Jesus is teaching in this passage. We live in an age when parents want to make sure their children get what they want, and have their way, no matter if having their way may disrupt the plans of others. Just because the child wants something, or wants their own way, does not mean that we need to bend over backward to give it to them. Children need to be taught that they don’t always get their way. Children need to be taught that they need to bend their own will to take a lesser role when dealing with an older person or authority figure if that authority figure is not trying to get them to do wrong. We need to teach them to be respectful of the will of older people. It may be something no more important than being told where to wait in a line, being told where to sit, or being told to wait, but our attitude toward obedience to these small things can tell volumes about our attitude toward authority. (EXAMPLE –many times as a substitute teacher I saw teachers lay down a rule and then would see parents negate that rule because it was not what they or their child wanted). If we don’t teach our children humility and selflessness, they will never respect the authority of older people, or God. If we always make sure our children are never denied getting their way, or allow them to be unhappy about minor situations that involve the obedience to an older adult, they will have problems all their lives in wanting to have their own way. They’ll think that their way ought always to be accommodated. Small things that demand obedience in children can turn into big things later in life regarding their attitudes toward authority in the secular world and in the church. When we ignore, and let our children ignore, authority because of wanting our own way, or wanting our children to have their own way, we are setting our children up for the kind of adults they will be.
Think! Have we taught our children humility, or have we taught them that they only have to complain or cry a little and they can have their own way.
This lesson is not only for children, but for grown adults. I’ve seen quite a few older people that were bound and determined to have their own way (probably because they were not taught as children), even literally pushing others aside to have it.
What have others “seen in thy house”?
Do we feel like we are going nowhere spiritually? Sometimes when we get unhappy and disillusioned in the work of the Lord we just need to do as Paul said and “be servants of one another”. Get busy and do things for others and the Lord. It doesn’t have to be something big. It can be as small as cleaning the church building, or taking a dish to someone sick, or listening to someone with a problem. Putting Colossians 3:13 – 14 and Phil. 2:3 into action can solve a lot of our problems with family and brethren.
What have others “seen in thy house”?
What have others seen in our house concerning the direction our lives are going in? Do others see that we are living here on earth to later live in heaven for eternity? In this earthly life children grow up and build homes of their own, and they see their children do the same. All of us will die one day, but if we’ve lived as God commands, one day we’ll never die, but live with Him for all eternity in heaven.
Do others see from our lives that we are going to heaven to live for eternity? Paul said in Phil. 1:23: But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better:
Do others see that we put the Lord’s Kingdom first in every aspect of our lives? Do they see that going to heaven is important to us, or are we trying to fit in with the world? What is our desire? Do we desire to be with Christ one day for eternity?
What have others “seen in thy house”?