1 Chronicles 9:11
“And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;”
In 1 Corinthians 6:19, the Scriptures teach us that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. This means that every time you see an analogy in the Scriptures about the temple, you can apply that to your personal life. In the verse above it says that Azariah was the “ruler of the house of God.” If you are going to be a successful Christian, then you are going to have to rule your house, or body, well. In order to rule the temple well, God set up different things to allow the temple to be what it should be. Each of these areas are important in your life if you are going to rule your house well.
First, you must use your body to serve the LORD if you are going to rule your house well. Verse 13 says, they were “very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.” God saved you and kept you on this Earth to serve Him. Every part about your being is to help you serve Him better. Even what you would consider your physical limitations, these were given to you to better help serve the LORD. If you’re going to serve the LORD well, then you are going to have to set yourself apart to serve Him.
Second, you must protect what your eyes see if you’re going to rule your house well. God set up porters to protect who came in and out of the temple. The porters were keepers of the doors. God says in Matthew 6:22, “The light of the body is the eye:…” I liken the eyes to the doors of your temple. You must be careful that you don’t allow your eyes to see anything that would corrupt you. The psalmist said in Psalm 101:3, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:…” Protect what you allow through the doors of your eyes, for they will influence what you think and do.
Third, you must protect whom you let influence you. In verse 19, God set up men to protect the gates. The gates are whom you allow into your life from the outside. Whom you allow into your life will influence what you become. Yes, you can be friendly to all, but you don’t have to be friends to all. Only allow those who are godly inside the gates of your life.
Fourth, you must protect your finances if you are going to rule your house well. In verse 26, God set up men who were over the treasuries. Your finances play a big role in what you do for God. Don’t allow yourself to get into huge debt. Debt will control your life. I have watched many people drop out of church because they have to work extra jobs to pay their debts. Ruling your finances will help you to rule your house.
Fifth, you must protect your personal time with God if you are going to be successful in ruling your house. God said these men were to keep their charge every morning. This is the time you spend with God. Protect that early morning time with God and make sure nothing takes it from you. It’s very easy to let your early morning time with God slip. Protect it so you can keep the sweet smell of God’s presence on your life as described in verse 30.
Friend, you are the one who is ultimately responsible for ruling your own house. Yes, this can apply to your household, but keeping your own house, your life, protected is going to take work. Watch these five areas and don’t let them slip. These five areas are areas where the Devil will constantly try to destroy you.