Momentum, part 3
This week we talked about how often our kids get in the way. Or at least we feel like they get in the way. But the truth is, we need to get them in the way. Because getting them in the way is the way that we make sure they stay in the way? Got it? Good.Okay, maybe you didn’t follow that. Here’s what we’re saying. When you put your kids in the way of the Lord early, they will stay in the way of the Lord all their lives. Or at least, there is a high probability of that happening.Or better yet, just read the Proverbs.Proverbs 22:66 Start children off in the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.Now, I know there’s a little bit of anxiety when we read that Proverb because all of us can think of at least one example of that not happening. And some of us are living out that one example. We have a son or daughter who we brought to church every week, we taught them about God, we even read the Bible and prayed with them. But now that they’re older they’re sowing their wild oats, their leaving the church, and we’re afraid they may be leaving God behind. They’re going out of the way.Let me address that anxiety and that elephant in the room today. First, we need realize this is a Proverb and not a promise. A promise is “If you do this, I guarantee the results.” But a Proverb is “If you do this, this is what will likely happen.” With promises, there are no exceptions. But with a Proverb, there are always exceptions. One of them is that each child is different, and eventually it’s their responsibility.But there’s another way to look at this. Think back to that wisdom Psalm we read, Psalm 127. Remember the heading? “A psalm of Solomon.” And we always think of Solomon as this great King. But take another look at his life.Solomon was David’s son and he took over as King when David died. Guess how old he was when he became King? 13. He was just a kid. And it wasn’t like the other child kings, who are just kings in title. At 13 Solomon was filled with God’s wisdom and started ruling.But as you read through Solomon’s life, you should ask whether he was a good dad. Not really. Not really at all. To start, he had 700 wives. 700! Do the math and you’ll realize that means that each wife only got a date night with Solomon once every other year! Having that many wives is never, ever a good thing. The family dynamics will be awful.If you continue to read you find out that his kids weren’t too great. You saw his kingdom divided after he died. Because his kids couldn’t get along and there was infighting. And now this guy, who may or may not have been a great dad, sat down and penned a psalm about being a dad.And what I want you to get is that no matter what size or shape your family is. No matter if you’re a single mom, a single dad, have your kids every other weekend, or you have a mixed family – yours, mine, and ours. It doesn’t matter if your family doesn’t look like mine. It doesn’t matter if your family isn’t a mom, a dad, and two kids. What matters is that you put your trust in God THE Father.Now, think about that for just a second. God is our father. And God is the wisest most loving father ever. And all throughout scripture, what are his children doing? Are they staying in the way? Absolutely not! He’ instructing them early in how to stay in the way, but they have strayed. What does that tell you? That even the best father will encounter children who turn away from him.If you have a child who has abandoned the way, even after teaching them early, you’re in good company. Because it happens to God the Father. But that doesn’t mean we give up. God is the father in the prodigal son story. And we need to take up that example as well. Get our kids in the way, and if they leave the way, we love them until they get back in the way. That’s the lesson we take away from that Proverb.