Eternal before Temporal Part 2

1 Timothy 4:8 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. There is little question that temporal things like sports, exercise and many of things that this life has to offer are of value. I know that for me personally I have to exercise in order to be healthy. I know that doing these things is not wrong. The problem is that to often we get this verse backwards. For many it reads, "For godliness is of some value, but physical training (temporal) has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." We live in a day and time where there is so much emphasis put on the temporal that for many families, individuals they have very little time to focus on the eternal and instead of the verse from Timothy becoming a reality the Borton paraphrase is lived out. Notice what Paul said to Timothy about "godliness (eternal)" that it has value for this life and the life to come. Please understand that temporal things in and of themselves have no value for the life to come (eternal). Regardless of how wealthy, well rounded, physically in shape you are you are going to die and none of those things will matter when you stand before God. Now in saying that I also believe that in those temporal things you can do great eternal value. I have seen many students take the talents that they have and use them to glorify God has they stood for godliness with their peers, teammates, coaches. I have seen students focus on the eternal and use the temporal as a means to glorify Jesus and proclaim his name. But for the majority of those students is was because it started at home. I have had some ask what would you suggest for us practically in order to put the eternal before the temporal. First understand there is no magic formula or set way of doing things. Second you have to be obedient to how God leads you as an individual and family. With that said I do believe the Bible gives us some help. Enter Deuteronomy 6:4-8 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. For our family here is how that translates practically. We use "Keys for Kids" (www.cbhministries.org (Google it) as a resource to help us. In the morning we gather as a family and read the passage of scripture that "Keys" suggests for reading that day. We then discuss the passage together as a family. We then spend time praying for the day, for each other and also pray for a country of the day provided by another resource Operation World (www.operationworld.org). Both of these resources will send you a daily email. Then at dinner and yes we eat dinner most every night and do our devotional from (Keys for Kids). Then just before bed we gather everyone again in the living room and pray together as a family typically having two of our kids pray and then my wife and I will alternate nights and close in prayer. Again this is what works for us and may not work for you. But to do something is better than to do nothing. Also please understand that we know that even though we are doing everything we can to create an atmosphere for the eternal that ultimately our kids have to choose and by the way we have to choose to put the eternal first. I hope and pray that this will help you as you strive to draw closer in your relationship with Christ.