God’s – Priorities of Parenting Plan (POPP)

Parents all over the world are making a horrible mistake with their children and they don’t even know it. They are setting the stage for disaster by throwing a wrench in God’s plan for their children’s lives and they are oblivious to the consequences. They are taking a very simply priority plan and switching the order of it to best fit their desires of the moment. Do you have a clue what I’m talking about? It’s the Priorities of Parenting Plan that states the following:
1) God First – Luke 10:27, Matt 6:33
2) Spouse Second – Eph 5:21-33, 1 Cor 11:3
3) Kids Third – Eph 6:1, Col 3:20, Deut 6

Parents all over the world are making a horrible mistake with their children and they don’t even know it. They are setting the stage for disaster by throwing a wrench in God’s plan for their children’s lives and they are oblivious to the consequences. They are taking a very simply priority plan and switching the order of it to best fit their desires of the moment. Do you have a clue what I’m talking about? It’s the Priorities of Parenting Plan that states the following:
1) God First – Luke 10:27, Matt 6:33
2) Spouse Second – Eph 5:21-33, 1 Cor 11:3
3) Kids Third – Eph 6:1, Col 3:20, Deut 6

This is so controversial to so many people for so many reasons! In fact, I know of several couples that would quit associating with my wife and me and defriend us on Facebook for even bringing this topic up in discussion. Some of them might even have their kids throw rocks at us. The reason they would get so worked up is because they have the above priorities in different order than ours and they would defend their views with as much vigor as we defend ours.
The parents who put their kids in the #1 position in the family are very content with this because they truly enjoy the happiness it brings to their kids. In fact, some people would say that putting your kids first means that your kids will grow up healthy, confident and secure in themselves. I think you can make an argument that the kids will grow up physically healthy, possibly emotionally confident if not overconfident and I’m sure quite secure, especially with their position in the family. In fact they should feel like a king. After all, they rule their world and their parents work exclusively for them. What a great deal for any kid in this position.
The truth is when we raise kids to be the kings of the home; we create a scene that fosters unnatural, unbiblical and (contrary to popular belief) unhappy relations between parents and children. The root of it all is that we position God in a less relative position in our homes and that’s dangerous. Often, when we make children the kings of the home you will position many other things above God such as sports, school, camps, music lessons, etc. The really sad thing is that all of these things are time consuming, costly and are terribly ungraceful when you’re not at your best at any of them.
I can go on and on about this subject but I won’t. I will say however that the order I have the above priorities in is the way that God would have them and that the greatest gift you can ever give your kids is to model these priorities in this order. Let your kids see you worship the Lord, pray to Him and read His Word. In addition let your kids see you and your spouse love each other daily and always make your conversations, your time and your energy go to God and your spouse first before you give it all to your kids. It will change your life and it will change your kids’ lives…for the better!