January 10, 2018 - - Proverbs 10:23 Are we fools for sports or wise for God?

To do evil is like sport to a fool,

But a man of understanding has wisdom.

Proverbs 10:23 NKJV

Think of the different levels of athletics. You have your hockey moms bringing kids to 6 am practices; you have soccer dads working out with their kids training them for proficiency. Then there are the self-motivated skate-boarders capable of awesome aerial twists and jumps. Right up to Olympic athletes whose lives revolve around their chosen sport.

You get the drift, right? How many of us, parents, train our children in wicked ways, in the things of our culture and this world but do not give more time and more attention to our faith and communicating the richness of knowing Jesus Christ!

I am not saying sports are wicked. But we watch endless hours of sports on TV, enduring commentary, commercials and replays, pre-game shows and post-game jaws, but gripe if the worship service takes more than an hour and fifteen minutes. We are prepared to drive across the province for sports events, but can't get out of the house for a prayer meeting on a week-night. We are training the children to sacrifice for their sport, buying the gear they need, paying for ice time and coaching and so on. But do we train them to give equally, or more joyfully, in tithes?

The man or woman of understanding knows the greatest treasure is knowing Jesus Christ. The parent of understanding longs for his child, above all else, to know the Word of God, be guided by the Spirit and dedicate himself to God. This is what makes one's life rich.

God, in Whose presence is fullness of joy, cause me to understand the richness of knowing You in Jesus Christ. Spirit of all wisdom, from the depths of this place of love and wonder, cause me to be a parent-coach training my children, and those in my sphere of influence, in the path of holiness. Amen.