Keeping on Target

2001

Is it alright to ask a question? You guys do a lot of activities together. My son wants to play guitar. He’s been taking lessons and I try to really bring that home. There are a lot of frustrations and things he’s up against that are really kingdom parables and analogies and I try to highlight those things. What kind of practical advice do you have for the adults or for the children as far as helping the children not let their affections fall on those things? We play basketball together -- how do we really keep that as something that’s on target? That’s with a pure heart, out of a sincere faith, and there’s no defiled conscience? Is it the same thing as with business?

It is, but I would add another thought that I think would be real practical along those lines. It goes back to something that is very dear to our hearts, a teaching of Jesus quoting Isaiah that is very, very important to us and yet still is a major trap, and that is that the traditions of men nullify the Word of God. A tradition is anything that is so repetitive that there is an expectation built in. It doesn’t have to be burning incense, sprinkling holy water and genuflecting and having icons on the wall.