Man, created in the image of God, male and female, was placed in a garden to live and work and enjoy God forever. Notice there is no separation between home and work? And in the beginning there was no division between husband and wife–they worked together sharing a common purpose. After the fall, where was mankind to live, work, and carry out the divine mandates concerning fruitfulness and dominion? And what does the LORD desire for our homes to be like today? And how has your understanding of that been shaped by industrialization and internet–rather than Scripture and face to face connections in the community in which God Providentially placed you?
This will be too brief to cover every facet, but hopefully thought provoking as you ponder God’s purposes for us in this world. In this world, we must constantly remind ourselves, we are only sojourners. An old word, one many have avoided as archaic–but I appreciate the beauty of this word. Abram, our forefather in the faith, was a sojourner. Much of his life foreshadowed our life in Christ.
We know that this world is temporal, passing away. Paul likens existence in this world to our tent, and in the next as our home (2 Corinthians 5). Yet while we live here, we cultivate faithfulness, we continue to live in His statutes–having dominion, being fruitful and multiplying, and stewarding our time, talents, gifts, vocations, possessions, etc. for His kingdom purposes. And cultivating faithfulness in the land–caring for and delighting in His creation as we build homes, plant gardens, and dwell in community.
Our homes have a purpose in His kingdom. Yet these homes are not our true home. We live in them, to His glory, without ever truly feeling at home. This is not discontent, it is a waiting to be taken home.
Sola Scriptura
As with any other doctrine, forget all the cultural cliches and marketing schemes, and let us turn to the Scriptures! Adam and Eve ought to have copied the garden, cultivating a faithful, orderly, beautiful garden in the whole world–multiplying as they did so. Every generation since should multiply, and cultivate order, beauty, life, goodness… this takes thought and intention. If we strive for “order” by killing weeds, but with our weedkiller contaminate local water supplies, ultimately snuffing out all life in portions of the Gulf of Mexico creating dead zones, it is not good, and is not godly order. If you redecorate and spend thousands of dollars on curtains and carpeting and repainting, and have nothing other than those curtains to leave to future generations, those expensive redecorating schemes are not godly beauty.
We must seek out Biblical wisdom to discern how to build, maintain, care for and use our homes.
We dwell in homes here in a community in which we do not exactly fit, just as Israel was not ‘home’ while exiled in Babylon. Nothing lasts, we do not fret over building an everlasting building, yet we live not with the mindset that only today matters. We strive to leave a legacy; one that presents our children and grandchildren with a holistic vision for life here while we await Christ’s return. Holistic–physical needs, financial needs, nutritional needs, knowledge and understanding and wisdom, love and support and compassion.
A place to grow, to be rooted, to launch from–not because they want to run away, but because they are grown and will go out to take dominion of a little piece of earth for His glory.
A home may last many generations. It might not. Having a connection to the land, within a community, can be a blessing for generations to come. Christians cannot make all their financial planning based on current personal desires with no thought for how it impacts their children. The wise man blesses the future generations, Prov. 13:22.
Yet, we hold all things with an open hand, “if the LORD wills we will pass this place on to our grandson…”; planning with James 4:13-15 firmly rooted in our hearts. At the same time, we do not withhold needs in order to store up for ourselves barns full of surplus; we care for family and especially for the household of faith (Galatians 6) in addition to our care and enjoyment of our homes.
…[do not] fix your hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy…storing up for [yourselves] the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that [you] may take hold of that which is life indeed.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Love Where You Live
A lovely tagline, hashtag, whatever. When hashtags were first on the scene, this one caught my eye. Rather than envying those who live elsewhere, love your community—and enjoy your surroundings; without allowing that love to become ultimate. We seek to pray for and bless the community we are in, and gratitude for that place will enlarge your heart for that calling.
Our homes should reflect our love for our Provider and Sustainer. Our homes should shine forth His glory in beauty, order, goodness, hospitality; as centers of growing in grace and truth; as places for fellowship, worship, rest and peace and joy–because of His Spirit dwelling in His people who live to His glory in that place. Whether single, married, with children, or among roommates–a home is not arbitrary in your faithfulness and your living out the gospel.
Our home can never be the primary goal of our lives; our idea of “self worth” with its desire to impress, to wow others, to keep up with those Joneses, is not from the Spirit (which is the polite way of reminding you it is demonic, ungodly, worldly–see Titus 2:11ff and James 3). Yet it is necessary, and good. To provide a dwelling for yourself, for your family needs to be a priority without becoming your singular focus.
Oftentimes, a greatness of grief accompanies the loss of a homeplace. This grief is not sin or worldliness unless the LORD has called you to leave and you have idolized that homeplace. To belong, to enjoy, to be creative and fruitful with a place can be very good, can be godly, can be a healthy part of your kingdom-minded stewardship.
Making decisions about a home with future generations in mind is a blessing. It is the industrializing of society that creates a fragmented and transient world; a world in which many see the opportunity to leave a homeplace as “bettering themselves.” Feeling disconnected leads to many of today’s mental and emotional struggles; yet we keep moving forward with the false belief that we are islands and captains of our own ships and free as clouds to roam about and should not be tied down.
Wendell Berry in his essay on Affection describes our way of avoiding rootedness as we cling instead to our possessions for life and meaning. Our homes can be idols, our stuff can be idols…the way of the nomad is not the answer–setting your minds on things of the Spirit, on Christ where He is seated, and on things above will restore your heart’s affections to their proper object, God alone. And then we can build homes to His glory!
We are no longer nomads in search of a home, we are dwelling here until Christ takes us home; so let our homes reflect His goodness, faithfulness, eagerness to please the Father and delight in Him in the waiting. (John 14)
Ethos, Needs, Desires
Consider the needs of your family, and be open to hospitality. Remember, hospitality is directed towards strangers, friends, family–it is welcoming and meeting needs and sharing the love of Christ. It is not throwing the best parties, having the largest get-togethers, or showcasing your awesome decorating skills.
Culturally, some things we Americans want in a home are not necessary; and some things are not even good. To have superfluous square footage so that family members simply subsist while avoiding one another is evil. Yet, to have a place where you could spend some time alone can be healthy and good. Small spaces mean family members can be working through difficult situations quicker as they cannot run off to fester in their wounds. Ultimately, we cannot prescribe outward characteristics that are a must; it is the purpose and use of the home that Scripture speaks towards.
Our homes can be places to exalt God’s order, beauty, goodness, restoration and peace; whether in designing, decorating, cleaning and organizing, caring for and keeping the home. These spaces are not to be revered, yet can be a sanctuary, a refuge, a haven.
In these homes filled with His order and beauty we can foster rhythms of working, leisure, rest, growth, celebration, worship; enjoying our homes as a place of refreshment, regrouping, reinvigorating.
How will you build the atmosphere of your home? This is worth time meditating on. “By wisdom a house is built, by understanding it is established, by knowledge its rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3-4. Cultivate conversations in your home, that it would be a place to continually speak of His truth (Deuteronomy 6, 11) and love.
Proverbs 24:27 reminds us to work outside first (meeting pressing needs!). Consider the original audience that had no industrialized food system. In that time, one must plant the garden, tend and provide for the livestock, then they were free to build. Attempt your own plan in a disordered fashion and your home becomes the place wherein you starve to death.
Psalm 127, unless He builds the house, they labor in vain; Haggai 1:4-9, the Temple first–eternal dwelling with God first. No amount of homebuilding, raising up of children, fostering an ethos of peace and delight within our homes, hosting Bible studies and fellowship meals, etc. in our homes means anything, if we build our home apart from Him. We cannot build our homes while abandoning the Church and expect Him to be with us in the endeavor. This is not an either/or–rather it is a reminder of the goodness and order of both!
Refuge
Obadiah’s prophetic message reminds us that a home is not our safety; but a safe home is a blessing of the LORD Who alone is our safety. Our homes can be a place to seek Him, to run away from the world to be with Him; to enjoy fellowship (Life Together, but in your home!) We can make our homes a refuge for others, a place to run back to, even as a prodigal, knowing He is with you wherever you go–but especially in a place among those who love Him first (have you heard Josh Garrell’s song, At the Table? Oh the beauty of picturing our welcoming children home to our table as a metaphor for His welcoming us!). The ending of Hannah Coulter, by Wendell Berry; I cannot give it away, but read it–looking for how the home becomes a refuge for a prodigal, ponder how it was that because of the goodness cultivated there in years prior.
Matthew 6:33 Seek first His Kingdom knowing that He will take care of us. This is not a promise that if we pray, we get the American dream; that is ungodly misuse of Scripture. But He knows our needs and will meet them. I may want a 2000 square foot house, but I am content in all things–happy and blessed in less; able to live and flourish and know truly that the lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. If I allow the world’s fragmentation and disorderliness to lead me into seeking my own kingdom, I forfeit the blessedness of His Kingdom. In these times we cry out “where are You?”
Jeremiah 29, written to the exiles from Israel and Judah, instructs them to build, plant, marry, eat, live life while exiles; while seeking the welfare of whatever city you are in. This is how we also live, in the midst of what the Holy Spirit says is a “crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights.” (Philippians 2:14-18). We do all this prayerfully (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Conversely, in Zephaniah 1:13, a consequence of Israel’s sin was to attempt in vain to build homes and plant and flourish apart from God’s wisdom and strength and provision. They could build, but He would thwart.
Belonging, Dwelling, and Groaning
One of our deepest soul longings, not conjured up by ourselves but part of who we are created to be–is our desire to eternally be with the LORD; belonging to Him, with Him, in Him, and among His gathered people. This is the inspiration behind chapter 5 Of Deep Simplicity: Meditations on Abiding in Christ.
A temporary home, but a place to cultivate faithfulness, live life enjoying all the metaphors mentioned above; share His love with others, and shine as lights. We dwell here, and enjoy the homes God provides. We fight the cultural desire to isolate and live rootless, disorderly, disconnected lives. We are devoted to the local Body of believers, embedded (thank you to Sinclair Ferguson for this teaching in his recent Ligonier session) in our local community; and we foster atmospheres in our homes to His glory, for His kingdom purposes. We do all this while groaning for Him to make all things new, groaning because we want to be with Him in our eternal homes (again, 2 Corinthians 5).
Book Recommendations
Lifegiving Home, Sally Clarkson
Quotidian Mysteries, Kathleen Norris
Jeremiah-Lamantations, a commentary by Tremper Longman III
Preparing for Glory, Elizabeth Turnage (to remember our role in leaving a legacy, which includes our financial resources, assets, home or land,etc).
The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs, Joel Salatin (to understand how having dominion over a home place requires good stewardship even of your grass, and will therefore be done to His glory if and only if you follow His ways, respecting the pigness of the pig, etc).
Wendell Berry essay: It All Turns on Affection