Back to School? Head Back to the Bible
Research shows that most Americans wish they spent more time reading the Bible – 62 percent. According to American Bible Society's 2014 State of the Bible research, the number one reason people don't read God's Word more often is busyness. Among those who read the Bible at least once per week, 47 percent say they never have enough time to read the Bible.
What if this year, we turned that on its head? What if we decided that time spent as a family reading and talking about the Bible is our first priority? But we all realize, that won't happen if you don't schedule it.
It's back-to-school season and families are shifting from the lazy days of summer to the hectic days of fall. For many, one back-to-school ritual is the daunting task of planning the family calendar. With all the soccer pick-ups, tutoring drop-offs and myriad carpools, family calendars will quickly fill up. Before most parents realize it, their family members will be heading in different directions, leaving little time to be spent together.
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It is the new normal in America for kids and parents to spend the school year as ships passing in the night. The busyness of the American family is rooted in good intentions. Parents want to be sure their kids aren't missing out on anything. They want to give them every advantage for a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, many of us parents are inadvertently scheduling our kids out of the very thing that will best set them up for a meaningful, fulfilling life: time spent in God's Word.
Don't get me wrong; activities can be great for kids, teaching them the lessons of sportsmanship, teamwork and handling defeat with grace. But, as with most things in life, the issue is balance.
And priorities.
Too often, parents try to fit God and family time in around other priorities. But when we do that, what are we actually teaching our kids? We're teaching them that time in God's Word is nice – if we can fit it in.
Reading the Bible as a family shouldn't be just one more "to do" to add to your back-to-school list. Shape your family's Bible reading habits so it works for you and your stage of life. My oldest son, now a pastor, says he saw a pattern that impacted his life. He points back to the impact of seeing my Bible and prayer journal by my favorite chair, and knowing that I had been reading it each morning of his entire life. And don't count yourself out. I am amazed how many times I found things that I've never before seen, suddenly leaping from the pages of what was supposed to be Bible exploration for my children.
It's the patterns here that shape a lifetime. Sharing Bible stories with little ones can lead to in-depth Bible study with teens and, ultimately, adult children who have learned to cherish their personal time with Scripture. When it comes to increasing your family Bible reading habits, why not start by shooting for improvement rather than perfection? As we learned in school, practice makes perfect.
