The Keys

Our priority house is unlocked by keys of biblical truth, truths that orient our individual homes inside God’s plan for all homes. Why are there families and homes in the first place? Who is important in the home? What is everyone to do? Admittedly, they are old truths (is there any other kind?), but in the post-modern world, we find things as simple as expecting family to make time for family dinners being touted as fresh, innovative ideas for the new century. On the other hand, some have become political firestorms with battles for defining marriage and spouse pulled new directions.

Unlike some priority house rooms, where there seems to be an endless array of topics and information that could be put into the room, there are not many keys to the house. It won’t take long to explain them. But they open everything. And nothing about the house would be the same if they were ever lost or bent out of shape.

Source of the Keys

Because the keys are Scripture, they have that bottomless feel that comes with all things biblical. The truth is solid and straightforward, but the applications, the nuances, the insights, and—wait, yes, yet another application—make the truths ever new and fresh, pertinent and challenging.

Purpose of the Keys

The keys give us clear direction for our priorities and values. While priorities never seem as real or pressing as a looming assignment, the work deadline, or company coming in forty-five minutes, once the priorities are generating the to-do list, the whole future seems to come into sharper view, arriving at comfortable speed and expected like an old friend rather than a stranger coming to call.

C. S. Lewis’ admonition to read (and re-read) old books  is worth applying to the keys. They, too, are worth confronting directly, rather than experiencing second hand and re-visiting at periodic intervals, to sit en suite and face again the Words that have oriented our lives and our families, given us purpose, and shown us paths of fulfillment: the purpose God has for the home, the people He has placed there, and the priorities He has given each family member, with particular attention for those He has for women.

You, of course, are not limited to these keys, perhaps you have others that open the door to your priority house, but mine are here, and here and here and here working as smoothly as when they first unlocked the door quite a few years ago.