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| What are our kids really learning when they observe us? |
This sermon will be presented on Senior Recognition Sunday. There is an obvious irony when taking note of the biblical warning against the idol of success and achievement on a Sunday where we recognize students for their achievements.
- Don’t we want our kids to make good grades?
- Don’t we want our kids to excel in athletics?
- Don’t we want our kid’s teachers to recognize their intelligence?
- Don’t we want our kids to graduate with honors?
- Aren’t we proud of our kids when they achieve a significant goal?
- How consumed we can be with what's on our report card?
- How enthusiastic we can be with what's on our resume?
- How obsessive we can be with who is in our social circle?
- How frenzied are you with are how you doing at work?
- How extreme are you with your job title?
- How inspired are you with how much money do you make?
- How obsessive are you with having been promoted recently?
- How extreme are you with gaining popularity and respect among your peers?
- How frenzied are you with living in a bigger home than you used to?
- How worried are you with living in the right house in the right neighborhood?
- Are your kids going to the right school?
- Are your kids performing in a superior way to your friend's kids?
We all need teachers and coaches and mentors to help us grow and challenge us and help us reach our God-given potential. But the idol of success and achievement will tell you,
"If you're not building up your resume, if you're not growing up your reputation among your peers, your life is actually on the decline. You are actually moving from worth something to being worth less."The result is we become driven to achieve more, gain more, accomplish more, and we can't see anything else to the point that we become achievement addicts and performance based junkies.
Like any kind of addiction, the achievement addiction always takes more from you than it gives. The marriage you put on the sidelines, the kids you don't have time for, the friends you never see, the God you hardly think of anymore, how much more are you going to lose to gain just an inch? How much more of what really counts in your life will you sacrifice at the idol of just a little more success?
Your kids are watching you to see what it really important. Jesus put it this way…
Mark 8:36-37 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul (psuchEn)? 37 For what will a man give in exchange for his soul (psuchEs)?This is a rhetorical question, but the answer should be obvious. It does you no good to gain the whole world, and forfeit your soul! It does you no good, but our obsession with achievement and gain for the sake of personal glory so that we might have the whole world in our own hands is just another sign that success and achievement has become an idol. In reaction to the reality of our success driven culture we must be intentional about combating the idol of success and achievement. Here are a few ideas that might help.
- Model genuine humility at home.
- Reward your kids modesty after an achievement is accomplished.
- Be ever thankful to God when anything in your family success.
- Give your kids an opportunity to be generous with there time, their and money.
- Resist the temptation to blame others when your kids are not successful.
- Be intentional and verbal about the things in life that matter: God’s goodness, His glory, His mercy, His Grace, etc.
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| Dr. Phil Sallee, Pastor twitter.com/philsallee facebook.com/phil.sallee philsallee.info nbchurch.info nbfamilies.info |
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