Dan Quayle was known for providing frequent laughs with such popular quotes as "I stand by all the misstatements that I've made", and "What a terrible thing to have lost one's mind. Or not to have a mind at all. How true that is." Maybe a lesser known quote is "For NASA, space is still a high priority." On the surface, this seems comical but to the Christian it might serve as a question we must ask ourselves. That question is: To a Christian, is Christ still a priority? NASA's very existence is dependant upon the study and exploration of space. Have we allowed Christianity to fall to such a low rung on our list of priorities that we have to ask if it is still a priority. We wear the name of Christian so Christ is our priority, isn't it? This question should be a rhetorical question, but I fear that it is not. I believe that Christ and the very Church that He died for has taken a backseat to other less-important things such as school, sports, human relationships and personal desires in many families.
Follow this equation: Student is held home on Wednesday night from church because of homework. Child immediately sees that studying to get into college is more important than studying God's word. Student leaves for college and has a big report due on Monday. The Student skips church on Sunday because he learned young that school was the priority. As he makes his way through school, his attendance becomes less and less faithful. All people talk about at this school is getting into Grad School and suddenly Grad School is the priority. Grad School is all about getting a high paying job so money becomes the priority. Money is the priority and as we know from the writer Paul that "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" (I Tim. 6:10) Now this child has fallen away from the church simply because other things became more important than the Church.
Don't believe this story could happen to you? It happens everyday in our churches. If you don't make Church the priority in your home, you can expect it will be even a lesser priority in your children's and grandchildren's homes. Consider Revelation's warning to the Church at Ephesus: Rev 2:4-5 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. (5) Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Abandoning your love for God is a sure way to show your children that Church is not the priority in the home. The good news is the same news that Christ spoke to the Church at Ephesus in Revelation 2, Thanks be to God that we were given the ability to make changes in our life and re-adjust our priorities. Make God the priority in your home and you will forever be rewarded by your spouse, your children and most importantly, by your God. ~DC
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