2 Kings 10:15-17 “After he left there, he came upon Jehonadab son of Rekab, who was on his way to meet him. Jehu greeted him and said, “Are you in accord with me, as I am with you?” “I am,” Jehonadab answered. “If so,” said Jehu, “give me your hand.” So he did, and Jehu helped him up into the chariot. 16 Jehu said, “Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD.” Then he had him ride along in his chariot. 17 When Jehu came to Samaria, he killed all who were left there of Ahab’s family; he destroyed them, according to the word of the LORD spoken to Elijah.”
“Screaming at The Refs: Parents and Their Misguided Passions”. That is the title I have trademarked for the book that I will be writing someday. Or maybe I’ll never write it, but it’ll be the thought that counts. Maybe there won’t be a book, but a sermon series, devotional, fiery Facebook posts, or an honest slap across the face is all it’ll amount to. The general idea of the “book” is based upon experience and things witnessed firsthand as a child athlete, coach, ref, sports league commissioner, spectator, pastor, and parent. One thing I’ve learned, youth sports tend to make adults act like children. It’s a shameful thing to witness parents embarrassing themselves on the altar of their children’s athletic success, which 100% of the time means nothing in the light of eternity. I have seen parents sacrifice thousands of dollars and hours to live vicariously through their children claiming that “They will be a pro someday”, “It teaches them hard work and life lessons”, or “I’m giving them the same opportunities I had or the ones I never had as a kid”. I have also seen parents spend little money on a beginner’s league and then tear into their player, the coaches, or the refs because something is “unfair”, and their child didn’t meet their expectations. Do you know what is unfair for your children? The fact that you could possibly have more passion for them to succeed in sports, school, or in their career someday, than you do for them to make much of Christ with their lives.
The fact that many parents will stake their reputation on the subjectivity of a foul or the matter of playing time, but they don’t give a rip about what is going on in their spiritual lives, is a sad reality! Maybe it’s the parent who diligently checks their kids’ grades, stays on top of them about their assignments, and makes sure they are a model student, yet fail to make the same effort in their spiritual investment. These things are not bad in and of themselves, but when your children see your passion for the gods in your life and theirs, they will surely have no clue that Jesus mattered to you. Going to church once or twice a week pales in comparison to the hours spent on the soccer field, at the ice rink, or at the motocross track. The thousands spent on ice time or new basketball shoes mustn’t be the reason why you keep your kids from summer camp. Are you starting to pick up what I’m putting down? What we do in moderation, our kids will do in excess. What we prioritize, what we are passionate about, what we value, invest money and time into, stake our reputations on, and are outspoken about, will surely be reflected in our children’s future, both in this life and the next.
From the little we can read about Rekab and Jehonadab in the Bible, there is much to glean. They were passionate people! Passionate about the most important things. Zeal for the Lord and obedience to him was what reigned supreme for generations! Misguided passion will only write our obituaries to tell of a love for golf, classic cars, or stamp collections. Things so trivial, things so vain and meaningless, yet we scream at the refs all the more. If you find yourself reading of my love for running, hunting, and the outdoors at my funeral, please, dig my grave a little deeper. Properly guided passion for God’s glory and the sake of the Gospel is ALL that matters and is ALL that will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come!
“Screaming at The Refs: Parents and Their Misguided Passions”. That is the title I have trademarked for the book that I will be writing someday. Or maybe I’ll never write it, but it’ll be the thought that counts. Maybe there won’t be a book, but a sermon series, devotional, fiery Facebook posts, or an honest slap across the face is all it’ll amount to. The general idea of the “book” is based upon experience and things witnessed firsthand as a child athlete, coach, ref, sports league commissioner, spectator, pastor, and parent. One thing I’ve learned, youth sports tend to make adults act like children. It’s a shameful thing to witness parents embarrassing themselves on the altar of their children’s athletic success, which 100% of the time means nothing in the light of eternity. I have seen parents sacrifice thousands of dollars and hours to live vicariously through their children claiming that “They will be a pro someday”, “It teaches them hard work and life lessons”, or “I’m giving them the same opportunities I had or the ones I never had as a kid”. I have also seen parents spend little money on a beginner’s league and then tear into their player, the coaches, or the refs because something is “unfair”, and their child didn’t meet their expectations. Do you know what is unfair for your children? The fact that you could possibly have more passion for them to succeed in sports, school, or in their career someday, than you do for them to make much of Christ with their lives.
The fact that many parents will stake their reputation on the subjectivity of a foul or the matter of playing time, but they don’t give a rip about what is going on in their spiritual lives, is a sad reality! Maybe it’s the parent who diligently checks their kids’ grades, stays on top of them about their assignments, and makes sure they are a model student, yet fail to make the same effort in their spiritual investment. These things are not bad in and of themselves, but when your children see your passion for the gods in your life and theirs, they will surely have no clue that Jesus mattered to you. Going to church once or twice a week pales in comparison to the hours spent on the soccer field, at the ice rink, or at the motocross track. The thousands spent on ice time or new basketball shoes mustn’t be the reason why you keep your kids from summer camp. Are you starting to pick up what I’m putting down? What we do in moderation, our kids will do in excess. What we prioritize, what we are passionate about, what we value, invest money and time into, stake our reputations on, and are outspoken about, will surely be reflected in our children’s future, both in this life and the next.
From the little we can read about Rekab and Jehonadab in the Bible, there is much to glean. They were passionate people! Passionate about the most important things. Zeal for the Lord and obedience to him was what reigned supreme for generations! Misguided passion will only write our obituaries to tell of a love for golf, classic cars, or stamp collections. Things so trivial, things so vain and meaningless, yet we scream at the refs all the more. If you find yourself reading of my love for running, hunting, and the outdoors at my funeral, please, dig my grave a little deeper. Properly guided passion for God’s glory and the sake of the Gospel is ALL that matters and is ALL that will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come!