Where Are You Invested?

Where Are You Invested?

How busy have you been lately with all the tasks of life? Have any of these statements crossed your mind or come out of your mouth recently, “I’m so busy at work that I can’t keep up and I’m even bringing work home.” Or, “This is a crazy month for me and the kids. Between basketball, piano lessons, and soccer tournaments, I might as well start a taxi service.” Or, “We are so busy all week with work and school and activities that most of the time I don’t even know what day of the week it is.”

I must tell you, that I hear statements like these many, many times each week. Not too many days ago someone I know looked almost sad as they said they are so busy that they feel like they can’t even catch their breath. But oftentimes it seems that busyness in our lives has even become something we’re proud of; like a badge of honor. And I’m no exception to this. I’ve had times when there’s a hint of pride in me as I am telling others about all the things I’ve been involved with and how full my schedule is. But, I’m learning more and more that busyness is not all it’s cracked up to be nor is it something to be proud of.

Busyness should not be associated with your value or importance and we should be careful that we aren’t teaching this idea to our children. It can actually be harmful in many ways. I think about how we used to run Tess and Amanda all over Merrill for different events and activities. At the time, I felt that I was allowing them to experience life and many good things. But at one point I realized that we weren’t exactly doing them any favors. We simply weren’t allowing them to be kids. And the time I was spending with them was not quality time, it was pressured time. Yes, in some ways I was teaching them about handling the pressures of life; of being busy and productive. But in other ways, I was also teaching them that it is normal to feel hassled, anxious and overwhelmed by all the things they were involved in; that they had to be doing something in order to feel worthwhile. Sadly, I’m sure this is something
that they have carried into adulthood.

At the risk of sounding like an old man, when I was a kid there were limited activities to be involved in and much more time for free play, church and family. When Karen and I were raising our family, there were many more scheduled and structured activities and a lot more pressure to join in. And now I watch the young families in our congregation and I wonder to myself, “How in the world are they doing all of this” and “How are these parents coping with these crazy expectations?”

So, I am here to remind you how important it is to use good judgment when choosing how busy your family is going to be. Choose wisely and be selective. Set boundaries and stick to them. And definitely allow for uninterrupted family time and time to practice your faith. Those times together are the real treasures that will shape your children and stick with them as they enter adulthood. And finally, my best advice, invite God into all of it. Show your children how important it is to acknowledge the presence of God in every activity of every day, no matter if it is work or play. Let Him direct your plans.

Our value and importance are not determined by how busy we are or how many activities we can cram into any given day. Our value is determined by how awesome God is, how much he loves us and our relationship with Him. This is a concept that goes against our culture, but it is the truth.

“Come and see what the Lord has done…He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth…Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46
Be sure that instead of pouring all your time into activities, you’re spending time investing in your relationships, especially your relationship with Jesus Christ.

In His Name,
Pastor Scott

share

Recommended Posts