On Roles

I made a chart a while back for New Year’s resolutions. (I no longer do New Year’s resolutions; instead, if I find something to improve, I just do it whenever.) Twas a simple chart. I listed all the roles I had on the left, then a way to get better on the right. I wonder if many people could easily fill out such a chart these days. I get the sense that a lot of people are flying by the seat of their pants. There’s a better way!

If you are a Christian, that’s number one. Easy. This means participation in the means of grace (prayer, Bible reading, sacraments). Getting to a Lord’s day service every week should be paramount, if that’s not already happening.

Next there are family roles. My number two is husband, then father. That’s the order. God gave me a wife first, and she will be around after the kids ditch us in their twenties. Being a husband and a father are very different, so that’s two separate roles.

For you, dear reader, you are a son or daughter second, then a sibling third. And yes, I haven’t mentioned school yet. Or hobbies, or sports.

Or friends; ah, friends. It is extremely likely you will not keep the same throughout your life. You can learn from your friends now, but they won’t last (statistically). Thus, I would keep friends insofar as they “spur you on to love and good works”. If there’s someone in your life you need to continually evangelize, they are your “friend” but should not be influencing you in the same way as a Christian friend would.

So, here’s my list: Christian, husband, father, teacher, son & brother, friend.

If you are still under your parents’ roof, here’s what I think your list should look like: Christian, son or daughter, sibling, student, hobbyist/activity/athlete, friend.

Oh how many things would go better in my students’ lives if they made their day to day decisions based on the priorities God has placed on them! And think of their futures as well.