Jesus was a busy man while on earth. Before His ministry started, Jesus spent His days as a carpenter. Without power tools or even modern tools, we can only imagine the amount of time that must have gone into every project. His ministry was even more time-consuming. He had to camp outside of towns not to be overrun by the demands of the large crowds that chased after Him (Mark 1:45). Despite the “non-stop” factor of it all, Jesus exemplified a crucial lesson for us, family time. Flip through the gospel accounts and you will see time and time again Jesus sneaking off by Himself to spend some quality time with His heavenly Father. Here are just a few reasons why valuable family time is so important.
Your time of influence is limited.
On average, kids spend about 18 years living with their parents before moving off on their own. That sounds like a lot of time. It’s not. Even during those 18 years, our influence dwindles. Around the age of 12-14, our kids’ friends have more pull than we do. So, soak up all the time you can. You can’t buy more of it. Please don’t waste it acting as though work and hobbies are more important.
Speaking strictly from a developmental standpoint, the beneficial impact of kids spending time with their parents is massive. Studies focused on family time have shown that kids gain improved mental health, perform better academically, have higher self-confidence, reduced stress, and even longer life expectancy (which the Bible stated first).
2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” —Ephesians 6:2-3
Family time benefits you spiritually.
As the dad, God has specifically called you to lead your family. When we live out the God-ordained purposes of our lives, we can feel it. We can sense the fulfilled purpose, the feelings of completeness. It brings meaning and energy. If you are tired and unhappy all the time, you may not be spending enough time doing what God called you to do.
Dad, anger is killing you!
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It’s good for the kingdom.
One of Jesus’ last instructions to His disciples was, “Go make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). When family time is a priority for a godly dad, discipleship happens organically. Instead of just talking about Who Jesus is, you give them a visible example of Christ. No, you don’t have to be perfect. Yes, you will continue to make mistakes. But by loving them, you model God’s love. By forgiving them, they learn about God’s forgiveness. By spending valuable time with them, you demonstrate the truth that they matter—in your eyes and the LORD’s. The Bible teaches us that God is our Father. You are the one who determines whether the word “father” has a good meaning or a poor one in the heart of your kids.
Valuable time with your family is truly priceless.
The idea that family time is essential or valuable is nothing new. You know it. The simple fact that you are reading this blog shows that you already believe time with your family is invaluable. The only question is, what are you going to do about it?
Got a plan with the wife and kids this weekend? If not, make one!
