Blessing or Cursing and Boundaries

I heard the commentary of a wife on K-Love radio station who said as parents they teach their children manners and respect so their behavior does not reflect poorly on the family.  My husband was very good about instructing our children in grammar and table manners.  Now whether it took with all six children at home or not was up to them.  

When we harm other people as a Christian it reflects poorly on God’s name.  Just like it reflects poorly on our household when our children act up.  The fear of God is reverence (respect) for His name.  The Bible says the fear of God is the “beginning of wisdom.”  Psalm 111:10

It’s like doing what is right to respect your family’s name (your parents) or God’s name.

My one-year old grandson Cameron likes to push buttons.  He comes over and he tries to push the television button off, get a hold of the remote control, turn off my VCR up in my room, push the cell phone buttons and he pushed the buttons to off for my modem and turned off my Internet.

Now what will be interesting is when he is older if he will start pushing his mom's buttons!  I learned a long time ago to fair well with your parents and your spouse, is to find their hot buttons and don't push them! For my husband his hot button was his son.  He son was very dear to him and I could not say anything good or bad about him because it was a "touchy" subject in losing his other son to SIDS.  I had to avoid that subject all together in his life.   Sometimes we can help a person with their hot buttons, but there was nothing I could do in that situation for his overprotectiveness, and I still pray for his son. 

One thing I heard recently is to be careful not to "curse" a person that is going down the wrong path in rebellion.  If you have a prodigal daughter or son, don't add to the problem by bringing up the bad.  I know fathers who have said things like "You are never going to amount to anything."  Words are very powerful and Solomon said that we will eat the fruit of our words.

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

As Christians we are called to speak blessing and life over people with our words, not cursing.  I was driving down the street and this man's pants were falling down and I was thinking was a "despicable" looking guy and the Lord dealt with me that he was made in God's image.  I am not to call anyone despicable or think that - to bless the young man with his pants falling down.  When I walk into Walmart, I am blessing all night....LOL

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. James 3:9

If someone has road rage and cuts me off on the street, I say "God bless you."  With anyone who has hurt or injured me I have asked God to bless them and pray for them.  It says we become like God in heaven when we bless our enemies because God is kind to the unthankful and evil as far as his son and rain shine down on both.

Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. Luke 6:28

Sometimes I'm prayed, "Father forgive them they know not what they do."

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked Luke 6:35

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Romans 12:14

There is one place I draw the line and that is when it comes to being in my house.  I've had people come to my socials in the past and if they were rude, I do not invite them back.   There are times that we can be in a situation in our household where there is a conflicting value system and that is a hard place to be as a husband/wife team.   There have been times I have stood up to authority if they were in the wrong as far as sinning.  I know my daughter's friend came and lived with us for a while since her parents were doing drugs.  Jesus warned that sometimes your enemies will be in your household:

Your enemies will be right in your own household!' Matthew 10:36

That is one thing I told the renters I have screened is that drugs will not be tolerated on no circumstances.  I also have screened for them bringing over any boyfriends, because I'm renting to one person --- not two! 

The Bible talks about elders are not to "Lord" over the flock of God.  But when it comes to our own households, I like to have a certain rules because it is like your own body and either you take care of your body or you do not.  Either you have rules for your household or you do not.  My husband and I found out the hard way when children got over a certain age, it's best they move on their own, because many times those baby birds get too big for the nest (too big for their own britches) to follow rules.

He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 1 Timothy 3:4

A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 1 Timothy 3:12