Ooofta. Talk about a loaded title for a Tuesday afternoon post. This topic has been laying on my heart lately, and I decided there were probably other mamas out there who were experiencing the same type of thing.
I was about 8 years old when I learned the 10 Commandments. Actually, a song about the 10 Commandments. My mom was the best at teaching us songs to learn our bible verses, stories, etc. To this day, I can still sing the song from start to finish, however, it wasn’t until I was in high school that I started to think deeper about how the 10 Commandments pertain to my life, and how I break them (quite regularly), even though it’s unintentional. Now as an adult, I’ve had even more time to ponder on the subject, and I see that I still come up short at times.
The very first 2 commandments go hand in hand. God should be first in our life, and we should have no other idols before God. Simple enough. It’s very easy to say that God is number one in our lives, but I will be the first to admit that when things are going smoothly- I let Him sit on the back burner far too often. I still read my devotional, and say my prayers before I call it a night, but looking from the outside in- I’m giving Him about 15 minutes of my time each day. BUT, don’t worry, I have a good excuse. I have a baby who needs me, a business to run, a house to keep clean (just kidding- I’m actually a horrible housewife). Plus, God blessed me with these things, so he knows I’m busy, right?
Now about number 2 (if you have small children and you just thought about poop when you read that, it’s okay- so did I). For the majority of my life, I have thought about idols as celebrities. You know, like Carrie Underwood, THE American Idol. You find yourself wishing for their fame, success or finances. But when God says, “you should have no other idols before me”, could he also mean our children?
The love a parent has for a child is different than anything I have ever experienced. I love my husband, my parents, and siblings. But that first time you hold your child, and you realize just what a miracle they are- everything changes. I love Addison with everything I have. She is my first, second and last thought. My entire being revolves around what she needs and when she needs it, and honestly I wouldn’t have it any other way. But do I idolize her over God? Do I put her before God at times? As hard as it is to admit, I do.
Think about it this way- if God asked you to give up your idol, could you do it? I mean, I suppose I could quit listening to Carrie Underwood on the radio- especially if God was asking me to. But what if He asked me to give up Addison? What if I was Abraham – and God told me to bring my child to Him as a sacrifice (Genesis 22). I know it’s extreme, but really think about it. Abraham didn’t question God for one second. He didn’t bring his excuses- and trust me- he had plenty of them. Isaac was his only son, the son God had promised to him after years of infertility. He shouldn’t have to give him back- it’s not fair. But he willingly went to the mountain, with faith stronger than I can possibly comprehend.
When I really think of the message God is trying to convey in this passage, I don’t believe he wants us to burn our children at the stake. That’s not the God we serve. I think what God wants of us is to give our children to Him spiritually- fully trusting their safety, their choices, and their salvation to Him. When I let that sink it a little, I think “whew, I can handle that.” But this isn’t a task to take lightly. By giving our children to the Lord, it is our duty to equip them to be disciples in a less than perfect world. It’s our job to tell them the truth and to pray over them without ceasing.
Are you up for the task?
