Anyone who looks at my calendar will notice how even "family time" is scheduled. I make it a point to put a two- to three-hour slot daily dedicated solely for family time into my schedule because if it's not there it's never going to happen.
Is family time really that important to me? Yes, it is, and if it's not that important to you, it's time to reconsider your schedule and start putting in times for family, not just for work. While God is honoured with our work, He is not honoured when work invades the slots meant for family time. We have to fight for quality time spent with family because God is most honoured when we prioritize family time.
Here are three of the many reasons why quality family time honours God and why we should actively pursue those golden moments.
God's purpose has always been in the context of family
God has worked and always will work through the family because He has set it as the basic unit of all society. The problems and crises a nation, city or community has is simply a reflection of the living rooms of the families that make up the body.
Just as Joshua declared, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord," (ESV, Joshua 24:15b) God is looking for families who will serve God by serving each other. Time spent worshipping God together through instruction and simply cherishing one another serves God's purpose. A man who pursues God's purpose at the expense of family is nowhere near God's purpose.
God is most pleased when we enjoy relationships
Our Father is a relational God who treats us as His children. That should tell us a whole lot about God's heart for familial love and relationships. Not only does God call us to be obliged to relationships, but He wants us to enjoy them.
God commands children to honour and cherish their parents, parents to train up their children and spouses to love and serve one another because when we do that and enjoy doing so in the context of God's plan for families, He is most honoured.
God brings rest to our souls through family
Jeremiah 6:16b declares, "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls" (ESV). The word 'ancient' used here does not necessarily mean 'old way' but rather refers to timeless ways. One thing is for sure: the concept of family is as timeless as the earth itself.
Ever since Adam and Eve, families have existed. And as God promised, as we stand in the ancient paths—the timeless ways of God—we will find rest for our souls. And that's exactly what happens when we invest time, resources and effort into family time: we rest not just our bodies, but even our minds and hearts as well.
