2. Who Doesn’t Want a Perfect Family? Spouses who fulfill their God-given roles. Eph. 5:22ff Faithful children. Prov. 22:6 If children misbehave: they are taught, warned, rebuked and punished…leading them back to faithfulness. If spouse is unfaithful: godly example by faithful spouse turns unfaithful back to God. Cp. 1 Pet. 3:1ff

3. The Look of Perfection Externals look good: – Parents and children “go to church”; participate in Bible classes; etc. – Parents have successful jobs/children successful school or sports lives. Some Christians might look at this family as having it all… no problems, “a perfect family”. But, looks can be deceiving.

4. REALITY CHECK: No Such Thing as a Perfect Family Most husbands/wives struggle through healthy marriages, let alone broken ones. Cp. Gen. 3:14 Most parents/children struggle in their ever evolving relationship. ALL Families are made up of sinners (Rom. 3:23): thus it is expected that families deal with: rebellion, boundary testing, spouse infidelity, trust issues, lies, greed, selfishness, hateful speech/behavior, etc.

5. God – The Perfect Parent He teaches diligently what pleases Him. He is patient with His children. He disciplines: rebukes and chastens. Heb. 12:7-11 And yet His children go astray! Why should godly parents expect differently?

6. Shattering the Proverbs 22:6 Myth It is generally true that if you “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” This is not a guaranteed promise. Imagine treating proverbs as promises: – No faithful person would get sick/harmed. Prov. 3:7-8 – All husbands/children would naturally praise the worthy wife/mother. Prov. 31:28

7. NOTE: You can have a Biblically Healthy Family Next week we will look at the Rechabites. We will see what CAN happen when ALL family members ban together as one unit. We will see God’s blessing in such a family.