Where is your family headed?

At the end of my previous post, I asked parents “What are you goals as a parent?” This is the time of year where many families set goals and expectations for the upcoming year. Some examples might be for your child to make better grades, to eat dinner more often as a family, to go to church more. The beginning of the school year is when most churches have the highest attendance. Then Labor Day hits, and the well-intended goals that you made for God start to die off. The excuses that parents use are too much homework, sports practices, or another Bible study; basically, God did not put enough hours in the day.

Think about the goals that you have made in your life. Career goals may range from first finding a job to now it is time to work up in the company. Personal goals may include to eat better and exercise more or to even doing something crazy like running a 5k or marathon. (Trust me, there is no desire in me to do this!) Spiritual goals may include getting up earlier and reading the Bible more, praying more with your spouse, and praying together as a family.

And then of course family goals which begin with starting a family, but then what? Have you ever made goals for your family? It makes sense to have goals for your family and for your child. If you do not have something that you are striving for, then you can wander aimlessly. It would be like if my wife and I decided to go on a trip to New York City without a map or her Garmin. I know there is a highway that will get us there. Let’s just drive until we get there. We may arrive in New York City or California or Brazil or Alaska - almost anywhere. The Bible says in Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law.”

Take some time this weekend or this next week to pray with your spouse and make some goals for each child. Make 3 to 5 long term goals by asking “where would I like _____ to be when they are 25 or 30?” Then come up with 3 to 5 short term goals by asking “where would I like _____ to be next year at this time?” Then pray over these goals and determine how you are going to implement your goals.

Some of you might think that the church should be making these goals for me. This is a bigger question to address later, but look at Deut 6:7-9. Ask yourself, “whose responsibility is it to disciple your children?” It is not the pastor or church’s responsibility to disciple your child; it is the parents’. The church’s role is to come alongside and support parents.