What do you really want for your kids?

If we were really honest with ourselves, we want our children to grow up to be the smartest, brightest, most talented students possible. That way they’ll be able to do well in school, receive good grades, win awards, get trophies, become accepted into elite universities, land a well-paying job, marry the right person, buy a big house in a safe neighborhood, retire early, and live happily ever after.

Sure, I want my kids to be like Christ. I want them to be an upstanding honest and moral citizen, contributing to the betterment of society. But do I want them to actually emulate the life of Christ?

• Do I want my children to talk about Jesus with their classmates—even if it means they’ll get bullied and made fun of?
• Do I really want my children talking about God in public—even if people think they’re crazy?
• Do I really want my children to endanger their lives by going on a missions trip to a third world country?
• Do I really want my children freely giving away their possessions to someone in need—even if they could desperately use the money for themselves?
• Do I really want my children giving up lucrative careers to become full-time missionaries—even if it means a lifetime of poverty?
• Do I really want my children to seek out God’s will for their life—even if it means they’ll have to relocate to the other side of the world?
• Do I really want my children fighting corruption and injustice—even if they get arrested, threatened, hurt, or persecuted?
• Do I really want my children to stand up for those without a voice—even if it means facing humiliation and shame?

 

What do I really want for my children? Too often, what I want for them is the exact opposite of a Christ-like life.

 

Ultimately, am I judging their success—and my ability as a parent—on earthly priorities or spiritual ones? Do I value the way they follow Jesus, or do I idolise superficial accomplishment such as academic, financial, athletic, musical, and intellectual achievements?

Parents often wrongfully use Christianity as a way to safeguard kids from “the real world.” We misuse our faith as a form of escapism, where we can blissfully teach our children about the miracles, victories, and happy stories about Jesus—without encouraging them to actually follow His real-life example.

We use Christianity to protect our children but rarely consider our spirituality as a calling to challenge them to a life of humble service—requiring very real pain, suffering, and sacrifice (but also joy, contentment, satisfaction, and love).

We want the best for our children, and according to our world, this rarely coincides with a belief or lifestyle related to God.  Passionately following God means that the secular world won’t portray your children as having—or being—the best. In fact, they might be viewed as having—or being—the worst. The might be surrounded by the poor, hurting, wounded, angry, and they might be considered weak and powerless fools—but this is when they’ll be most like Jesus.

A father sent his son to love the world. If only I were brave enough to do the same. God help us.

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Edited from original article on www.redletterchristians.org

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