Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

It’s that time of year again when the leaves turn colors, the air turns crisp, and the athletic fields are filled with activity.

It’s soccer season. And football. Field hockey and cross-country too. Not to mention marching band, karate, dance, and cheerleading.

Wrestling and basketball are right around the corner, if they ever stopped. Whew!

I coached 20 seasons of youth athletics when my own children were young. I loved it.

I know firsthand that sports can be a great experience for boys and girls, especially with so many outstanding teams and coaches in our community.

Youth sports and extracurricular activities teach children important lessons about teamwork, discipline, and resilience.

But not the most important lesson. Youth sports don’t teach children about God.

As the new pastor at our local church, I’ve been out walking the fields and festivals in our community.

I’ve encountered dozens of parents who want the best for their children.

They love their kids. They invest in them. They seek to give them every advantage.

So, they run. From this sport to that sport. From one activity to another. Monday-Wednesday-Friday is soccer. Tuesday is Scouts. Thursday is gymnastics. Weekends are for travel tournaments.

The pace is frantic. The bills are high.

Often, families are separated because the volleyball game is in a different town than the dance recital.

Dinner together is a rarity. Leisurely evenings occur only when rain cancels practice.

Church or Sunday School? Not this week. That conflicts with the baseball game.

Most parents tell me they don’t like the pace or the sacrifices, but they don’t have a choice. They are captives to the schedule.

So, the moms are frazzled, the dads are overwhelmed, and the kids are confused.

Parents don’t control the destiny of their own families. The activities do.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30)

Jesus promises peace of mind, but God requires obedience.

Foremost, that means putting our trust in him. Perhaps that’s what’s missing the most in our hurried and hassled families. We’ve put our trust in other things.

The Biblical term for this is idolatry.

It happens whenever people prioritize something above God. Idolatry isn’t just worshipping a golden calf.

It can be something as seemingly innocent as youth activities, if they end up dominating our lives and displacing our faith.

Idolatry is the oldest sin in the Bible.

It separates people from God, deprives them of purpose, and sells them a lie-that pursuing the creation can replace knowing the Creator.

Idolatry often develops gradually, stealthily.

Most people don’t even know it is happening until they are trapped. Then they must fight to get out before it’s too late.

The Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

If parents don’t model Godly behavior when their children are little, who will their children emulate when they are big? College professors? Social influencers?

If parents don’t teach their children about God when they are young, who will teach them when they are older? Probably peers who don’t know about God either, or nobody.

I’m not advising parents to withdraw their children from youth activities. I know they provide important benefits.

But without limits, youth activities don’t enrich families, they consume them.

And too many families seem to be failing to enforce reasonable limits, resulting in too little time together and even less time with God.

Parents shouldn’t expect the culture to restrain itself. It’s already too entrenched.

Instead, parents must take responsibility for their own families, reestablishing leadership in the home and setting sensible boundaries. That takes perspective and faith.

Perspective means staying focused on the big picture.

Your sons and daughters are probably not going to be deprived in life if they participate in a few less events or miss a couple of practices.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Col 3:2)

Faith means putting your trust in God.

He’s not asking us to earn his favor. He doesn’t want us to wear ourselves out driving our kids around. He just wants us to accept him.

Jesus said, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:29)

We live in an amazing community, full of strong families and wonderful opportunities to teach our children about life.

Parents, don’t forget to make God the most important lesson.

Kevin Dellicker

Interim Pastor, Ebenezer Church of New Tripoli