Why this waste? Pt 2

Last Friday, our discussion involved the things discussed in the previous post, but also how these thoughts (that moms at home are wasting their talents, etc.) can affect us on a daily basis, even as we interact with our children. True, worldly minded people may question our priorities in pouring our lives into something as insignificant as making a home and raising children. But that is often somewhat easier to distinguish as a potential attack. It is when our own thoughts drift this way that we may not distinguish it as an attack.

And when we are facing discouragement from any number of daily struggles, especially if we lose sight of God's purpose for them, its really our own thoughts that affect us the most.

A struggle for some college educated christian moms that I have known is a recurring feeling that they should or could be out doing "more" -- either getting more done, or getting more important things done -- if they were unencumbered by children. When this is combined with the idea that they could serve God more effectively if they were not at home, doing things that a very small segment of society deems important or even necessary, it can really present challenges for remaining content!

Jesus actually addressed this situation.

Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?
for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
But he answered and said unto them,
Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother:
and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
But ye say,
Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother,
It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free.
Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth,

and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Here Jesus is addressing the problem of those who profess to follow God ignoring his commands and priorities in the name of "serving God". The younger were saying to their parents, "Sorry I can't help you as the scriptures say, but I need to go serve God instead."

Jesus exposed this line of reasoning for what it is: NOT a heart that is close to God and following his ways. We can imagine the temptation for a zealous young person, wanting to serve God, but not seeing that as anything connected with life at home. Years ago, Melody Green wrote a very telling article which was prefaced by a letter from the parent of a young adult. The mother said her daughter was very anxious to run off to the church youth group under the guise of spiritual growth and fellowship, but she sorely neglected her home responsibilities and was not respectful to her parents or loving to her sister.

A missionary once told me of a young lady who visited with a "short term" youth team from an American church. As she worked in the kitchen after a meal, this young lady lamented, "I came to Mexico to do missionary work, not wash dishes!"

Can we also be deceived in our thoughts to disregard the importance of our tasks at home? Oh yes! And it can come out in the wrong attitudes in our minds and cause us to truly be less effective in the things that matter most to God.

And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them,
If any man desire to be first,
the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them:
and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,
Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me:

from Mark 9:35-37