What's Most Valuable to You?

Ever hear of a contest prize where a person has just 5 minutes to run
through a store and fill their cart with anything in the store that
they want?  Imagine spending precious time on penny candy at a grocery
store or party favors at a toy store.  It sounds crazy to waste time
on trinkets when much more valuable things can be gathered in your
alloted time.  Yet how many of us chase after things of very little
eternal value in our alloted and brief time here on earth?
 
One of my pastors said that my wife and I are a throwback to the
1940s. I appreciate what he meant as a compliment but I imagine that
human nature has not changed terribly much since the 1940s.  We have
merely repackaged the responses to marriage, family, and society
pressures.  The condition of the heart remains as selfish as ever.
 
More than once we have been told that our family is "outdated."
 
We are outdated because our marriage grows and flourishes despite
getting married at age 19.  (The divorce rate among couples who get
married before age 20 is around 80%.)  The position of the husband and
wife in a God-centered marriage has been distorted and is considered
an antiquated notion because it is not understood in its proper
context. Even Christians have allowed our models of leadership to be
just about anyone but Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the church.
 
We are outdated because other families have both parents working
outside the home. Of course, some families do not have both parents
living at home!  Many try to fill the parental void with technology
and fast food.  Others lower the standards of a quality family life,
redefining what is normal and what is outdated.
 
We are outdated because our family is now considered large with four
children; not because of the reasons for large families in ages past
but because of an inability of some parents to take responsibility for
their children.  Some parents even live in fear of their own children.
They have no idea what it is like where each family member is loved
and is loving toward one another; where children are taught that love
is the essential ingredient by which a family prospers.
 
But as wonderful (or antiquated) as my "traditional" family situation
is, you may be disappointed to find that it is not a recipe for
success.  Happiness does not come from force-fitting another family's
situation onto your own unique family.  The key to contentment is
making God your first priority.  Then He will become the Lord of your
family situation and circumstances.  Matthew 6:24-32 shows that
putting God first ensures that all the important things "will be added
unto you."  God will enable you to fill your basket with the most
valuable things in the time you have alloted to you.  Reach for the
things that have eternal value and you will have won the best prize.