A few years ago when my wife and I were in the throes of raising our six boys, my wife was a stay at home mom, and she shouldered many responsibilities and worked hard (and still does) to keep our house running smoothly. During those years, I was challenged to ask her one simple question “What’s one way I can help you with regards to our kids and family”? Her response…”Would you adjust your work schedule to be home when the kids get off the bus from school”? My first thought, “Well, that’s ridiculous. I have to work during that time and there’s always too much to do”. Then a stinging rebuke hit me…I’d recently finished reading a book by Andy Stanley where he mentioned “Everyone wants more of your time and efforts. Your work wants more of you. Your kids want more of you. Your friends want more of you. Your wife wants more of you. Your hobbies want more of you.” And the list goes on and on. The reality is, you can’t please everyone, so you have to choose who you will cheat. My selfish desire was to say I need time at work. If I don’t get things done, they’ll be sitting on my desk for me the next day. I don’t want to look bad in front of the rest of the staff. I need to be successful at work. It would have been much easier to tell my wife that she’ll be fine with doing everything at home, and she doesn’t need my help.
Philippians 23:24 says “to value others above yourself, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of others.” Whose interests should get the priority in my life. Whose interests should I be putting first? Myself, my work, my ego? Or should I be valuing my wife and my family first? Needless to say, I made the commitment to honor my wife and give her the first fruits of my time.. And I can honestly say it’s made an unbelievable difference.
