"Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name" (Isa. 49:1 KJV).

It is important that parents know they are to help bring forth God's deposit potential in ministry He has placed in each of their children. You would do well to see that your children come to know and experience true fellowship with God.

We should not give room for our children to become bitter toward the church because of what we do in the church. That will hinder their time of true fellowship and relationship with God.

In other words, they're not going to want anything to do with the church or with God if the church always seems to be "taking" their parents from them. Therefore, you have to balance your time and involvement in the ministry.

You Need To Manage Your Time Carefully
I read an introduction in Dr. Cho's book. He said that there was a time in his marriage when his wife had become very unhappy because he had been so busy running meetings and managing the ministry.

Of course, at the same time, he'd bring his dirty clothes home for her to wash. Yet he had no time to spend with her and their baby. He told her, "You have the baby and the house, spend time with them."

He conferred with his mother-in-law (who happened to be his spiritual mother before he was married). They had a wonderful relationship. She asked him, "Do you love your wife?" He said, "Yes." She said, "Then you need to spend time with her."

Love = Time
The same is true about your children. Do you love them? Then you need to spend time with them. Never let it be said "My daddy's not here because he's doing something for the church." Children get bitter and say "I don't want anything to do with the church because that is what took my daddy from me."

We must keep our priorities in place. You cannot bring forth God's deposit in your children if you are not there. The church does not come before your family. God ordained the family before He ordained the church.

Keeping your family first, besides anything else (other than God) will cause you to raise a godly seed. Then both you and your children will be blessed.

Study Reference: Jeremiah 1:5; Malachi 2:1

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