As a parent, it’s so easy to get distracted by shiny and enticing life goals that look important, but are really only temporary. In most healthy parents, there is a great desire to help their children to experience the best life they can have. We see our children’s strengths and weaknesses and try to point them in the direction that they will have the most success in life. But, in all of this goodness of raising up children to success, we can also create idols that are exalted above the Lord.
One of the biggest idols in the world is sports and athleticism. It is usually placed above all other things, except making money. Money and success are huge. Children are taught through modeling and conversations that are “caught” that money matters more than anything else in life. Yet, if we read in Ecclesiastes, we find wisdom that all this chasing after money is meaningless.
Ecclesiastes 2:17-26. “So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.
A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
King Solomon, the wisest and richest man to ever live, wrote this wisdom literature apart from the lens of Christ and the revelation of heaven. How much more clear does this view make the futility of the rat race of life? The nature of chasing earthly success is not that having money is wrong or that success is wrong. The problem is that neither of these things are eternal or last past the onslaught of aging and death. We can pass on money in an inheritance, but it can be wasted or poorly managed. But, if we pass on a godly heritage of faith – we pass on something that will never pass away.
For our children to be led and taught to prioritize God-fearing foundational and eternal things first will bring success in many areas. But, first we must acknowledge that righteousness is an end in itself, because we are seeking to please the Lord and to place him at the center of our lives. We were created by Jesus, through Jesus, for Jesus. So, when we live for him we will find eternal purpose, satisfaction and rest that no one can take away.
My sons are extremely athletic. Our oldest son competed as a decathlete on scholarship for D1 George Mason and Grand Canyon Universities. Our youngest son is a high school All-American national track and field medalist. However, these things wear away with time. While it is an honor to use the gifts that God gives you to his glory, it is not wise to put all your eggs in the basket of worldly success. There is more to life than winning medals and competitions. This life is short. We do not have time to ignore eternity.
Do we live and model that the world and its kingdoms are passing away, or do we teach our children to build their lives upon the sinking sands of the success of this world? How we live, how we talk, how we live in this world will impress the next generation the most. Do we prioritize weekly worship and daily prayer? Do we read the Bible as a family? Do we talk about spiritual things in the car, on walks or during meal times? Do we model repentance and forgiveness, as Christ has forgiven us? Do we show our children that they matter to us more than money? Do they know that God matters to us more than money or pleasure?
Deuteronomy 11:18 “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.”
How do we frame what is important? Let us bring our weaknesses and failing to the Lord. Let us offer up our successes to the Lord. He is the giver of all good things. If we need a change in the way we think, only he can show us how to raise children to live for what is the most important thing – eternity.
Prayer Points- Today, let us pray and ask the Lord to reveal any areas of our lives where we have exchanged the eternal truths for temporary pleasures and success. Let us ask the Lord to reveal any worldly philosophies we believe and to replace them with truth. If your children are grown, ask the Lord to intervene and to teach them the truth.
Father, in Jesus’ mighty name, I pray and lift you up. I was made for you. My family was made for you. I pray that our lives will bring you glory and praise. Forgive me for living for things that are futile and temporary. Forgive me for exalting things in my life that do not have lasting value. If there is any way in my life and in raising children that I have modeled foolish pursuits above you, please forgive me.
Lord, please show me any ways that I give foolish and worldly thinking a place in my mind. Reveal to me any lies I believe and lead me in the way everlasting. Lord, I pray for my children and grandchildren (name them). I ask that you will bring the revelation of Jesus Christ to them that they can discern truth from a lie. I pray that you will remove the confusion of this dark age and replace it with clarity and truth, in Jesus’ name.
Show my children what is eternal. Give them a hunger and thirst for righteousness, so they will be filled. I pray that you will show us how to exalt Jesus Christ in a way that is healthy and honorable. I ask for courage and leading to have healthy and regular spiritual conversations with my children and grandchildren.
Take away any fear of rejection or fear of saying something wrong. Lord, give me the words when I have these conversations so that you are exalted and my children will hear from you.
Forgive me for approaching eternal conversations with fear. Replace all fear with peace and love in the Lord.
Lord, I ask that you direct our family’s steps so that our lives will bring you praise. I ask that we will live for eternity. Give myself and my family (name names) wisdom, that we can see our days in the light of eternity and your grace and mercy. May we live for you and for others, before we live for ourselves. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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