Spiritual Priorities

So, lately I've been involved in a LOT of discussions about the priorities parents place on spiritual matters. The topic seems to come up quite frequently. The matter is heavy on my heart because young people is "what I do". I see with my own eyes the priorities that parents place on church. I'm talking about "church" parents, too, not the unchurched. How can we expect the lost to do any better when the "Christian" parents can't even get it right? That's a whole other blog.

I find it sad that parents can get their children to soccer practice, dance, tennis, or whatever the extra-curricular may be, but yet they can't get their children to any "extra" church activities. For that matter, five days a week they can get their children to school pretty much on time but can't seem to get up early enough to make to Sunday school on time. If Sunday school starts at 9:30, most parents will try to show up for coffee at 9:45, maybe. I've seen some walk in at 10:00.

Why is that we think we need to have the most well-rounded children? Or does it matter more that our children know, really know, God and what He is all about? While I understand the importance of teaching your child a sport some with the hopes of scholarships for college one day, very few actually make it that far. Shouldn't we be investing in things that will last for an eternity?

I've been one of those parents whose children had something every night of the week. We would rarely get home before 7:00 or 7:30. leaving very little time to eat a decent dinner, much less have any quality time together. We were all so worn out and cranky that all we wanted to do was go to bed. And as much as I am ashamed to admit it, church was just one more thing on our to-do list and usually involved complaining.

Church should be THE THING on our to-do list as parents. Everything else that is scheduled should, must, revolve around church and the things that will disciple our children so they have roots and are grounded in faith, so that when they leave our nests, they will be able to function in this world and make wise, Godly decisions.

I try so hard as a parent to make the best choices for my children, I am by no means the model parent, but I do try to make sure that they are getting what they need, and also that I am optimizing every teachable moment that is provided to me. I pray that when I have to make choices for them that matter for the rest of their lives, that I will always choose God and not the world.

Label me as a fanatic or whatever you want. Choosing to live for God means to LIVE for God in ALL aspects, not just on Sunday mornings, maybe Sunday evenings and an occasional Wednesday night. I want my children to understand that God is the highest priority in their lives. In order to do that, I must model that EVEN WHEN I DON'T FEEL LIKE AND I AM DOG TIRED FROM JUST BEING A PARENT!!!!! I must make them go to church when they complain about being too tired or whatever the excuse may be!!!! I must be the one to teach them scriptures!!!! I must be the one . . . . . .Why? Because I am the parent!!!!!!!!

THINGS

So, yesterday at Bible study as we got into small groups I just happened to have noticed all the Coach bags that were on our table. Not that it matters, but it did get me to thinking about the "things" I own, which are not much to say the least. When I got home I looked in my clothes closet and determined that there is NOTHING in my closet that costs me over $20 bucks, with the exception of my Nike tennis shoes which I bought over four years ago for $40, so averaged out they shouldn't count. Everything in my closet has mostly come from $3 sales racks at Wal-Mart or clearance racks at other stores with an average of about $10 (maybe).
So after I checked out my closet I then took a gander at the rest of my house and its furnishings. Again, I found nothing of great expense. My bedroom suit is the most expensive thing that we have purchased as far as furniture goes, and it was a DEAL. There is no fine china. My dishes came from Wal-Mart. My kids have never had video games or atv's to play with and are clothed with hand-me-downs from good friends. Our big TV was given to us not long ago which replaced the other TV that was given to us while we were at seminary. We have just the one compact Chevy Cobalt car that we share. Just not many "things" to brag about.
Why am I pointing all this out? Don't know other than it just struck me that we, my family, spend very, very little to exist in this world as compared to others. Would I love to be able to go shopping each season? Oh, you better believe it. To shop for fun is not something I think I have ever been able to do, and honestly, not sure if it will ever happen.
Early in our marriage we didn't have a clue on how to handle money, as we were never taught. Then, when we did start making money, the alcohol was in control and money disappeared as fast as it appeared. After the alcohol and the life turn-around for Keith, we then entered the ministry where we sold almost everything when we went to seminary. And yes, we are still paying dearly for financial mistakes made in the past.
I guess it just strikes me how "things" can control you if you let them. "Things", or the lack thereof, can easily control me if I think about them for too long, or if I let myself compare my lifestyle to those around me. Flesh can take over in a flash, and then envy sets it. I admit wholeheartedly that this is a daily battle that I fight over and over. I pray hard each day that I don't let myself get caught up in "things". I'm not by any means saying that I believe having things are wrong. I am saying that it is not necessary to have expensive things to exist in this world, because we do it daily.
I'm not sure we will ever own our home again, have a car that fits all of us comfortably, or be able to go shopping and take vacations just for fun. But I am sure that God has made sure that we have EVERYTHING we NEED. We have not gone hungry or naked, ever! I firmly believe as long as we are seeking God and seeking to obey what He has in store for us, we are going to be fine.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you? O you of little faith? So do not worry saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his rightousness, and all these things shall be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 25-34
This I know: I am a child of God and he promises to take care of me so long as I seek HIM first. This also I know: my eternal home is one of splendor and great majesty and is next door to a King, the King of Kings.
Finally, I have my family, all together, and we are trying with all our might to serve our God faithfully.
Just my thoughts. Hope you are able to get something out of it.