Building God’s Kingdom

In this week’s Zoom Dad Talk with numerous Chinese men, an interesting question was posed. ‘Most Chinese men work 12 or more hours per day, so Bill, how can they abide in their family and be available and present with them?’  How would you answer that? I admit I had to pause a moment to hear the Spirit’s voice. Workaholism is a problem among many men.

I shared some experiences in my own life, but the overwhelming thought was; are you trying to build your own personal kingdom, or are you dedicated to building God’s Kingdom in your family’s life? Isn’t it a matter of priorities? God, wife, children, church, business, personal development, ministry etc. You do your own list. If business and financial success are at the top, everything else will surely suffer at some level.

He will provide

My overriding counsel was this. In Matthew 6 Jesus is teaching about human needs and he uses three illustrations from nature concerning food, clothing and shelter. Then he concludes saying, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

See, it’s a matter of trust. Are you relying on your own skills and resources to provide these for your family, or are you able to trust God with these needs? Your answer, the Chinese men’s answer, says everything! Look what Jesus challenges each of us with. Mt. 6.33 (my life verse) —seek him first, daily, continually, and he will provide these for you because, as a loving Father, he most of all knows what you need. Get your priorities straight, and God will do the rest, in and through you. He’ll change your circumstances if that’s what it takes, even for you workaholics! “With God all things are possible”.