Doing Well

When you get to be my age and you happen to be with somebody you haven’t seen for quite a while, the conversation is often fairly predictable. After exchanging “medical reports” and the “what are you doing now” information, the conversation often turns to children and grandchildren. It is interesting to me that, at that point in the conversation, it is often said that these family members are “doing well.” 

It is both fascinating and disappointing to me how “doing well” is sometimes defined. More often than not, “doing well” means that those children and/or grandchildren have good jobs, live in nice houses in good neighborhoods and communities, have (or are getting) a good education, etc.

I cannot help but wonder why there is often no discussion about the spiritual condition of those children or grandchildren. Is the spiritual condition of family members just not all that important? Is it a “taboo” subject because the children or grandchildren have no relationship with God at all? 

Could the answer to the second question be found in the first question? Is it possible that younger generations have grown up in families where material and temporary things are seen as much more important than things that have to do with souls and eternity?

I’m thinking of a parable taught by Jesus and recorded in Luke 12. As you may remember, this man in the parable had so much “stuff” that he was making plans for more storage space. As you also may remember, he heard these words from God:

‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, 

and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

(Luke 12:20, ESV)

Have you read or considered the Lord’s application of that parable lately?

So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.

(Luke 12:21, ESV)

Some people might think that Noah was a miserable failure because he was able to get only his family on the ark. I think that I may know some parents and grandparents who might think that he was anything but a failure. Sadly, some of those people may come to that realization way too late. There are multiple forces, people, philosophies, and even religions doing all they can do to divert the attention and loyalty of our children and grandchildren away from the eternal and toward the temporary. We need to try to make sure that we are doing all we can to keep these evil influences from doing well in their efforts.

---

Subscribe Via Email for Free

AUTHOR: Jim Faughn