It is common for Teri and me to be going somewhere and notice someone with erratic driving behavior, seemingly unable to keep the vehicle between the lines. It especially does make us uncomfortable if they happen to be in the lane beside us. Almost always, when Teri gets to look, the driver of the other car is focused on their phone. How insane is that? The driver is legally responsible for any harm or damage to others that they might cause with the 2,000 pounds (plus) of plastic and metal they are driving. Yet they are giving their attention to an inanimate object that weighs less than a pound. 

Don’t we often see a parallel absurdity in professing Christian families? Dad has responsibilities before the Lord with eternal consequences in how he leads the family and disciples the children in Christ. “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:7). Yet he spends his time on things of no eternal value.

Dad can’t save his children, but is he truly attentive to the priceless value of his children’s souls? Is his example and leadership consistent with their value? Dad’s time spent in pursuit of sports and worldly media might be similar to a driver being distracted by a dumb phone. 

“That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:” (Psalms 78:6-7).