Forming a Theology around the purchase of a house.
The Series thus far:
1. Should a Christian buy a house?
2. Buying or Renting- which is biblically correct?
2. (Appendix) OT law regarding property sales
Today’s post looks at the important issue of location- where should we live? This question is tied up with another crucial consideration- how should a Christian use their home? In order to better understand the first, I have started with the later query.
3. How should a Christian use their home?
“An Englishman’s home is his castle.” Anon.
“A Christian’s home is a drop-in centre.” Me.
a. Shelter. We should never ignore the obvious, after all, it is obvious for a reason. What is the definition of a house?
House, n., /Hous/
a place for human habitation.
Of course, the primary purpose of a house is for shelter and protection from the harsh environment outside. I don’t think anyone will contend that statement- in case you were thinking of doing so however I shall remind you of one of the Lord Jesus’ parables:
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
(Matthew 7:24-27 ESV)
Jesus obviously thought that a house was to be used as protection against the winds and floods and rains we experience in our localised climates. Enough said on that topic, I think.
b. Church. A home is a precious resource, which can be harnessed for supporting your church fellowship. In Acts chapter 12 and verse 12 we find Mary holding prayer meetings in her home (Through the prayers of those saints, the Lord freed Peter from prison). Aquila and Priscilla are great examples of NT believers who regularly opened their home up for church meetings. Perhaps youth meetings or particular bible studies are in need of a venue? Perhaps something needs storing? I’m sure your church could use your home somehow!
c. Support workers. Homes are also places to provide rest and support for traveling evangelists, speakers and missionaries. Martha opened up her home to the Lord Jesus. In Acts 21, Philip (himself an evangelist) provided a pit-stop for Paul and his companions. In 3 John, the apostle writes to Gaius, who, it seems, allowed many preachers to stop off and recuperate in his home.
d. Hospitality. Connected with point c., hospitality is a major theme in the life of NT Christians. In fact, we are told that Christians will be particularly noticed by their love one for another. From personal experience, I know what a blessing it is to be invited out to a fellow believers home for a spot of Sunday lunch or dinner. It is especially beneficial to spend time in the homes of believers who have different family situations than yourself. As a young unmarried Christian, I find it a great joy to spend time with Christian parents and their families, or elder more experienced brothers and sisters. Romans chapter 12 verse 13 says “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Other examples can be found in Matthew 25 verse 35, Hebrews 13 verse 2, 1 Peter 4 verses 9 to 10, 1 Timothy 3 verse 2 and Titus 1 verse 8.
e. Family. A home should be a godly environment for the upbringing of children. Paul gives some advice to Timothy regarding the selection of elders and deacons, he says that both must have households honouring to God, where the children respect their parents. A child’s home is the place where he or she should learn about the Lord Jesus- both through scriptural teaching and worship, but also through the example of his earthly Father.
f. God’s Glory. Ultimately of course, every house must be used for the glory of the Lord God- as appose to the men at Babel, who built a great tower for their own praise and renown. A home is a wonderful gift and must be treated with thanksgiving and praise to the gift-giver. I hope that points a through e all have Jesus’ glory at their heart.
4. Location, Location, Location: Biblical Principles for locating your home.
“Home is where the heart is.”
a. Get your priorities right. Wherever we finally settle down, we must remember that this is not our ultimate home. If home is where the heart is, then our hearts must be firmly fixed in Heaven! As we mentioned in an earlier post, we are merely ‘wanderers’ awaiting our home in heaven. C.S. Lewis famously said:
“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”
Likewise, no home here on earth will bring us ultimate satisfaction. Whether in the run-down housing estate, or in a luxurious mansion, nowhere can bring satisfaction without Jesus Christ.
b. Be prepared to move. It may be that God has other plans for you that involve upping sticks and heading into the unknown. Of course, as the next point suggests, perhaps you can best serve God exactly where you are. But don’t get too attached, okay? Examples of people who stuck around for some time, but then moved on, include Priscilla and Aquila, Timothy and Titus and even Paul (who stayed a number of years in Antioch and Ephesus).
c. Serve a local Church. Church is where believers gather and encourage one another. If you live many miles away from your church then you cannot, in truth, support the work and people there. Remember our earlier suggestions regarding hospitality (specifically amongst your church) and using your home for church events.
d. Witness to unbelievers. God uses the lives and words of believers to touch the hearts of others. Moving to a new home is a great opportunity to get involved with your neighbours- throw barbeques and meals, share gardening tips, support local initiatives and fetes. These ideas are not stand-alone evangelistic things, rather they should be used to develop friendships and to show the love of Jesus Christ and thus providing opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ. If- like me- you are not the social type, then make neighbourhood friendships a real point for prayer! The passion and zeal shown by a family at my church has really challenged me- they were one of the first buyers in a large new development, and have shared their love of Jesus Christ with many of the new households springing up there. Now they are even now running one-to-one bible studies in their home. But none of this is possible if we live in a deserted area miles from other humans!
e. Fulfil other Commitments. If the location of your new home causes you to be late to work, or to lose contact with family and friends who rely on you, then I suggest that you may have a problem. Colossians 3 tells us that ‘whatever [we] do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.’ It brings no glory to God if we are repeatedly late for work. It sounds obvious, but we must locate our house in a place which is thoroughly practical and doesn’t cause us to fail in our numerous commitments towards others.
I hope that wherever you prayerfully decide to live, you will be able to serve the Lord wholeheartedly, remembering that the Lord Jesus Christ has granted you a joint inheritance with himself in Heaven.
Talking about Abel, Enoch, Noah and Abraham, Hebews 11 says this…
“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”
(Hebrews 11:13-16 ESV)
