Have you ever considered that all of our lives have become more hectic over the last ten years? Many fathers, and even mothers, spend countless hours either at the workplace or logged in to work from home in an effort to complete their current work assignment. Downsizing [or resizing] has fueled the anxiety in the home – such that many parents are willing to work many overtime hours without ever receiving any additional pay. And, many a child is left either attended to by the television and/or by a day care center.
When there is time for the family, most of it is spent driving the children to and from their next after school activity. And by the time Sunday rolls around, every one is so exhausted that making an effort to attend Worship Services is fraught with reasons for not going – like, “it’s not Christmas or Easter,” “there’s a game on today that I don’t want to miss,” “we’ve got a soccer game today,” “let’s do something as a family,” “we just want to sleep in,” “we’re too tired to go anywhere,” “I’ve got a few more hours to spend on this project.” Many times we rationalize our “drive for success” under the guise that, “all we’re doing is for the family” – to provide a better standard of living, a better home, better schools, and a better future. As time goes by, our bank accounts may get bigger, our home mortgages may double, and our children grow up, move out and go to those expensive colleges that we were saving for.
However, in the end, that which would have benefited the family the most was completely neglected. For you see, many families today make no time for the Lord – nor do they even consider giving any extra time, money, or effort unto the Lord’s service. Consequently, the only desire of the family is the accumulation of worldly gain – without any consideration for preparing for their eternal wellbeing. (And we wonder why our families are in such disarray.) In the Book of Luke, we find a parable that Jesus spake which clearly embodies the statements presented above.
Luke 12:15-21,
“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
In the end, it will be the Lord who will state, “Thou fool.” This will be stated to the father, mother, and the children – for when they could have had eternal life, eternal treasures and rewards, they will suffer the consequences of eternal poverty. Some will be condemned to an eternity in Hell [because] of their rejection of Jesus Christ as their Savior.
John 8:24 states,
“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
Others, like these, who trusted in Christ unto God’s salvation will have a home in Heaven – yet it will be absent of any rewards. 1 Corinthians 3:15 concludes that this type of person shall suffer the loss of rewards, but will be “saved; yet so as by fire” – for it states,
“If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
Let us now ask, “Are you too busy: (1) to give your life unto the Lord; (2) to take your family to Worship Services; (3) to teach your children about Jesus Christ; (4) to support the outreach ministries of our church in time, money, effort?” Does “Thou fool” apply to you? If so, why not change your course today and find time for the Lord (and if need be, find the Lord) – for therein will you find great reward.
