2 Chronicles 24:4
"And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of the LORD."
Home construction projects are never easy and they're never cheap. Joash found that out when he was "minded to repair the house of the LORD." The first project he put his heart and energies to when he took full control of the kingdom was to repair the temple. One of the reasons this may have been his first project is because he was protected by Jehoiada the priests when he was young, which meant he spent a lot of time in the temple. He saw the repairs first hand of what needed to be done, so he set out to make sure that the house of the LORD was properly repaired. There were several things Joash did to repair the house of the LORD that every couple must follow if they want to construct a strong home.
First, it takes reality. Joash knew there were problems with the house of the LORD, so he was minded to repair those places. If you are going to construct a strong home, then you must not cover your eyes to the weaknesses in your home. You must look at your home through they eyes of reality and see the areas that are weak and work at improving them. You can lie to yourself and say your home is strong and destroy it, or you can see what areas are weak and improve it.
Second, it takes spirituality. Joash followed the commandments of God and involved the priests in the rebuilding. No home will be strong without it first being spiritual. If you are going to have a spiritual home, then you need to have your family involved in church. Not only must your family be involved in church, but you need to be sure to have a daily time with God both personally and as a family if you want to keep it strong.
Third, it takes money. Joash not only collected money, but he also saved it. One of the biggest areas that hurts many homes is the financial side. Keep your finances in order so that financial pressures won't destroy your home. Every home needs to have monies set aside in savings for a rainy day. Don't let your home be one that spends frivolously, but let it be a home where you are frugal with the monies God gives you.
Fourth, it takes work. Joash didn't just have a mind to rebuild the temple, but he also worked to have it rebuilt. No home will be built without hard work. It's never been easy to have a good home, and it won't be easy today. You have to work at having a good home if you want to construct a strong home.
Fifth, it takes teamwork. Joash involved everyone in the rebuilding process. It wasn't just one person doing the work, but everyone was involved. Your home will only be as strong as the involvement of every member, especially the involvement of the husband and wife. Constructing a strong home cannot be a one man show, but every member of the family needs to be on the same page to make sure the home is doing right.
Sixth, it takes a lifetime. The one mistake Joash made was that after Jehoiada died he destroyed what he rebuilt. Don't let that be the case with your home. You must never stop constructing a strong home. It will take a lifetime of doing right. If you get to a point where you start letting up, then that is when your home will be destroyed. You must follow these principles for a lifetime if you want your home to be strong.
Friend, your home isn't the only home that might need some work. Every home has areas that need improvement. You and your family need to make it a lifetime goal to have a strong home. Don't let up! Strong homes are not built by accident, but they are built by each member purposely following God's principles for constructing a strong home.