Priorities

Life is busy for families. Between school, sports, activities, homework, work schedules and everything else competing for our attention, it can be easy for our relationship with God to get pushed to the side. Most families do not set out to make God less important—it often happens little by little as other things fill our calendars and our thoughts.

In this week’s Brite lesson, kids will hear how the shepherds responded to the good news of Jesus’ birth and discover that Jesus brings joy. When the shepherds heard the angels’ announcement, they did not treat it as just another event. They immediately went to see Jesus, and afterward they could not stop talking about what they had seen and heard. Their joy came from knowing that the Savior had come.

As you talk with your kid this week, consider what helps your family stay focused on Jesus during busy seasons. Rather than talking only about what should come first, spend time talking about why Jesus is worth putting first. The more kids understand who Jesus is and how much He loves them, the more they will want to build their lives around Him. Joy grows when our attention is fixed on the One who came to save us.

Here’s how we discussed this topic and how you can discuss it at home: 

Discuss: What are some things that are most important to kids your age?

Discuss: How do kids show that those things are most important?

Discuss: What does God have to say about our priorities or what is important to us?

Say: Many things battle for our attention. Between school, sports, video games, electronics, friends and so much more we often feel pulled in different directions. We also have things that we really like the most and those things get the majority of our attention. We probably wouldn’t say we worship video games or sports, but when things like that get the majority of our attention, it is possible we are giving them focus that should belong to God alone. Matthew 6:33 says: Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. When so many things battle for our attention, we have to be intentional to put God first. One way we can do this by making time to pray each day and read His Word.