Short Term Adjustments for Long Term Benefits

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"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds and tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates…carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways and to hold fast to him—"  (Deuteronomy 11:18-20, 22, NIV)

For many parents whose children's schedules of activities already have a strangle hold on them, and for parents whose own priorities have cut them off from any signifanct spiritual influence in their children's lives, making the adjustment to the kind of lifestyle Moses is describing here, will be difficult.

Some would say impossible, but apparently that is not so. Author, speaker and pastor, Peter Scazzero describes some of the ways he and his family simplified their lives so that they could concentrate on spiritual growth as a family.

"For this reason our children are not in three sports at one time while learning violin. We are careful not to buy every new electronic or technological item to help us save time. Instead of having five credit cards, we have one. Instead of cooking elaborate meals and having a house that is always perfectly clean, we have made choice to let that go. We are no longer involved in fifteen projects at the same time in our service for Christ. We do less, but do it better than before. We also got rid of our cable a number of years ago and opted for a DVD player instead" (Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Thomas Nelseon, 2006, page 204).

For those starting out in marriage and family relationships, planning for spiritual growth needs to be at the top of the "to do" list. For those already on the road, the changes might be a little painful. But as we read further in this chapter from Deuteronomy we are reminded that God promises blessing for the effort.

"I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied…Every place where you set your foot will be yours…No man will be able to stand against you…" (11:14, 15, 24, 25, NIV).

However these blessings can be translated into modern day language, the promise remains in effect just as much for us today as it did for the ancient Hebrews.

If life is all about long term benefits, then planning for eternity through spiritual growth is a good investment.