Homegrown: Cultivating Kids in the Fruit of the SpiritSample

Being Faithful to What Matters Most  

As a dad, I (Josh) have to confess that too often I get my priorities mixed up. Though I’m mostly aware of how I spend my time, I can be unfaithful at times to the things I need to be faithful in. 

I had a moment not long ago when Christi challenged me about our marriage. She asked why we were growing distant and why I wasn’t being very loving in how I spoke to her. I couldn’t believe the accusation. I truly hadn’t even noticed. In fact, I thought we were doing pretty well!

Little did I realize it took that moment for me to wake up to how I was prioritizing my loyalties and allowing work and uncontrollable circumstances to own my thought life.
I took Christi, and our marriage, for granted. Even though I was physically present,
I wasn’t emotionally available to her. 

Though it took a few days to mentally and emotionally reset my priorities and surrender my concerns to the Lord, I had to apologize to Christi. I realized that I hadn’t been fully present with our kids either. 

To be fair, these are circumstances that can happen to any of us on a regular basis. But what happens if we continually fail to recognize how we’re prioritizing our loyalties? If we don’t remain faithful to God, today’s needs will consume our hearts and minds. 

Begin by looking at your calendar. What do you give your time to? Dads, are you more loyal to your football team than you are to making sure your family is plugged in at church? Moms, are you more loyal to your to-do list than you are to playing with the kids? Parents, are you more faithful to your boss than you are to God? Or is God your CEO, guiding and leading your work on a regular basis, through ongoing prayer and regular Sabbath? 

In our culture, travel sports teams, good grades, and other extracurricular activities are the currency of the day. Are we so busy that we cannot see God in the midst of the frenzy? 

One of the best activities for leading your family and evaluating your priorities is establishing family values. As you look at your calendar and what you give your heart to, consider your family’s values. Do they match what your calendar says you value? 

 Learn more about Homegrown at http://LifeWay.com/Homegrown.