"He set his household in order, and hanged himself." The sad story of Ahithopel in II Samuel 17:23 has been often repeated. But even more sad it is to say that it has happened many more times in the spiritual realm. It is a tragic example of what me and women do spiritually.
We have great concern that our household be in order. Much labor and time is expended to see to it that we have a nice home to live in, a good car to drive and nutritious food to eat. There must be clothes for the kids, provision for their education, security for retirement and advancement in the work place. There is life insurance, health insurance, auto and home insurance. We go to great ends and expenses to make provision for our households.
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. It not life more than eat? And the body more than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye though for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast unto the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought saying, what shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after these things do the Gentiles seek. For you Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Many in their efforts to have their households in order, starve their souls, remain naked before God in their sin and leave off preparation for eternity. No time for worship ping the living God, no time for searching into spiritual matters, no time for seeking the righteousness of God which is in Christ Jesus, no time for praying to God for all mercy, grace and guidance. There are few who search the scriptures to see if what religious men tell them is true. They simply commit the watching of their souls into the hands of others who are as blind as themselves and they both perish. Content they are that they should be fed week after week from the pulpit a diet of programs, pleas and sermons full of stories and human motivation but at the same time hear nothing of Christ who is our Life. They set their households in order and at the same time commit spiritual suicide! He is not a "good father" nor is she a "good mother" who does not seek the welfare of their own soul and the welfare of their children's souls. A simple decision, walk down an aisle or baptism does not secure our souls for Heaven, we must know Christ and believe on Him for all our salvation. We must know who He is in order to believe on Him and we must hear the truth about Him in order to know which one to believe on. Antichrist is simply anyone or anything against the Christ of God as He is revealed in scripture. Week after week people unknowingly hear of antichrist and know and care little about it. What shall a man or woman profit if they gain the whole world for their household and they and all their household lose their own souls?
May God awaken us to the real need of our families and ourselves—the Lord Jesus Christ! Oh that we would heed the prophet's warning: prepare to meet thy God! Such preparation is to be found not by labor but by the gift of God's grace in Christ. He is the only way to meet God. He is the matter of great importance. Let us take the words of Joshua for our own, "As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord."