A Pattern. Momentum!
Deep in the forest a stone began to roll down a steep slope bouncing over twigs until it finally hit the top of a large rock. This sudden impact caused the stone to leap high into the air. Once airborne, the stone sailed over a cliff plummeting down into the murky river below where it simply sank out of view. Momentum at work!
People’s lives also experience “momentum,” a momentum they create. Consider Kirk. Although Kirk heard his parents say “God is most important,” as a child he often watched them choose to “sleep in” rather than make the effort to go to church. They hardly ever prayed at home, not even at meal times. Kirk’s parents were good citizens, but it was obvious to Kirk that what they really wanted out of life were better cars, nicer clothes, etc. Kirk came to realize that for his parents, God was a wonderful insurance policy to keep the good life going after death finally came. Being a bright young lad, Kirk learned the lesson well.
When Kirk went off to college, although he had a wide range of interests, he decided that he would choose a job where he could make the most money. Momentum.
While at school, he met a girl who wore the best brand name clothes and worked hard at getting the things she wanted out of life such as a nice car, etc. A year later, Kirk married her. Momentum.
Following graduation, they both went to work in order to achieve "success" by acquiring their list of “wants.” Although their house began to take on the appearance of “success” (a stock pile of stuff), they found themselves often fighting over finances. Anger often erupted. Momentum.
When children came along, there were more things that they just had to acquire. After all, their kids had to have “the best.” To provide for the brand name tennis shoes, etc. Kirk chose to devote more time to working long hours. Momentum.
With all of the demands on their time, something had to slide. At times they chose to skip worship because they were just too tired. Momentum.
After their children grew up and abandoned worshiping God in order to have fun on the weekends and pursue their careers, Kirk asked, “What happened?” Splash!
Now meet Sam. In spite of being raised in an ungodly family, Sam had been converted and was serious about serving God. Although he didn’t become a preacher, when Sam went to college his first criteria in choosing a field of study was whether he felt that working within that particular field of study would help or hinder his devotion to God. Momentum.
He found himself attracted to Sandy, a girl who had been raised in a Christian family and who was more concerned about living for God than having brand name clothes - although she had some of those too. A year later they were married. Momentum.
Initially they both went to work, but when children came along they decided that in order to give their children “the best,” Sandy would stay home to teach their children their values. This meant they had to lower their standard of living to obtain something more important. Momentum.
Although Sam occasionally was required to work over-time and occasionally he chose to work over-time for various reasons, typically he preferred going home to spend time with his family because of the responsibility God had given him as a husband and a father. Momentum.
Even though Sunday morning Bible class came early and sometimes the kids complained about going to church because they would rather go to a ball game, or just sleep in nevertheless they were always there to worship God because that was important to them. They viewed worship not simply a duty which they had to do but as an opportunity to express their thanks to God for all that He had done for them. Momentum.
What values are Sam’s children learning? Where is such a family headed? What is the likely hood that his children will grow up to love God and worship Him? Everyone, including our children, must choose which paths they will pursue. The book of Proverbs gives us the general truth - "Train up a child in the way he should go. And when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Regardless of what I might claim is my treasure, my children will discover the true treasure of my heart by the decisions I make. What lies deep in one's heart leaks out into one's conversation and behavior. It can not be hid.
"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:34
"Don’t be deceived; God is not mocked, for each one reaps whatever he sows." Galatians 6:7
Barry Newton, Copyright © 1998, 1999
Other Articles Which Might Be of Interest
The Crossroads of DecisionWhere's the Treasure? (Issues of the heart)
Prisoners Of An Unseen Force (On One's Beliefs)
Rocks in the Pond (Consequences of Our Actions)