As for Me and My House: Joshua 24:15 Meaning

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" means making a clear, personal decision to lead your household in loyalty to God, no matter what the culture around you chooses. Joshua spoke these words near the end of his life (Joshua 24:15, KJV), and they remain one of the boldest declarations of faith in all of Scripture: a choice made first by one person, then carried into a whole family.

The Story Behind Joshua 24:15

Israel had crossed the Jordan, taken the Promised Land, and settled into the inheritance God had given them. Joshua, now old, gathered the tribes at Shechem and retold everything the Lord had done, from Abraham to the Red Sea to the walls of Jericho. Then he put a choice in front of them.

"Choose you this day whom ye will serve," he said, naming the gods their ancestors had served beyond the river and the gods of the Amorites around them. Before the people answered, Joshua answered for himself: "but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15, KJV). He did not wait for the crowd. He set the direction for his own home first.

As for Me and My House: What the Verse Really Means

This verse holds three truths that still speak to families today.

1. Faith is a decision, not a default. Joshua said "choose." Nobody drifts into serving God. Every generation, and every person, has to decide whom they will follow. Comfort, success, and the habits of the people around us all compete for that place.

2. The decision is made "this day." Joshua did not say someday, after things settle down. Serving God is a choice we renew daily, in how we spend our time, what we allow in our homes, and how we treat one another.

3. One person can set the course for a household. "As for me" comes before "and my house." Joshua owned his own walk first, and his conviction became the culture of his home. A family often rises to the level of faith that one committed person is willing to model.

The Family as God's First Kingdom Assignment

Dr. Myles Munroe often taught that the family was the first institution God established, before any government, church, or nation. In his view, the home is where the culture of the Kingdom is meant to be learned and lived first. Before Adam ever governed the earth, he was given a garden to tend and a family to lead.

That is why Joshua's declaration matters so much. When a household chooses to serve the Lord, it becomes a small embassy of Heaven on earth: a place where love, order, honesty, forgiveness, and purpose are practiced every day. Strong Kingdom homes produce strong Kingdom citizens, and strong citizens change communities.

How to Live "We Will Serve the Lord" Today

Serving the Lord as a household is not about being perfect. It is about direction. Here are simple ways to put Joshua 24:15 into practice:

Pray together, even briefly. A short prayer at dinner or bedtime teaches children that God is part of everyday life, not just Sunday.

Read Scripture out loud. One verse a day, talked through at the table, builds a family vocabulary of faith.

Serve someone as a family. Deliver a meal, help a neighbor, or give together to a cause that reflects God's heart. Children remember what they do far longer than what they are told.

Make the hard choices visible. When you choose honesty over convenience or forgiveness over resentment, say why. That is how "as for me" becomes "and my house."

Start again when you fall short. Every family stumbles. Joshua's words are an invitation to choose again today, not a verdict on yesterday.

When Your Household Is Starting Over

Some families read this verse from a place of loss: a broken home, an eviction, a car that died and took a job with it. If that is you, Joshua 24:15 is still yours. The God who brought Israel out of the wilderness into a land of their own still restores households.

That is the heart of Kingdom Dominion Reigns. As a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, KDR restores houses into stable homes for women and families in crisis, and turns donated vehicles of every kind into reliable cars for families who need transportation to work and rebuild. We believe a household with a safe home, a way to get to work, and a renewed faith can stand and say, "We will serve the Lord."

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" mean?
It means making a personal, public decision to follow God and to lead your family in that same direction, regardless of what others around you choose. Joshua made the choice for himself first and then for his household.

Where is "as for me and my house" in the Bible?
It is found in Joshua 24:15, spoken by Joshua to the tribes of Israel gathered at Shechem near the end of his life.

Can one person really change the spiritual direction of a family?
Yes. Joshua said "as for me" before "and my house." One person who consistently prays, serves, and models faith can shape the culture of an entire home over time.

How can my family serve the Lord together through KDR?
You can volunteer, give monthly, or donate a vehicle or property to Kingdom Dominion Reigns. Donated vehicles are resold to buy reliable cars for families in need, and gifts help restore homes for families starting over. Email KingdomDominionReigns@gmail.com to get involved.

Choose This Day

Joshua's question still stands: whom will you serve? Make the choice for yourself today, then invite your household to follow. And if your family wants to help another family stand again, give to Kingdom Dominion Reigns or donate a vehicle today. Together, house by house, we can serve the Lord.