Arranging the Table

We're Back!

During our furlough I have been falling behind on my podcasts, but I do squeeze in a few episodes here and there. The past few days have been productive with lots of uninterrupted time for housework and preaching. Now I need an outlet for the good stuff I've been taking in!

I caught a best of Tony Evans sermon today that is part of his kingdom agenda series. He focused on Psalm 128, and it caused me to reflect upon some of the things we have seen and heard during our time in the States. His (Tony Evans) greatest reward is that his four children still want to be a part of his ministry. It's a ministry idea that starts with the individual, moves to the family, to the church, and finally to the community. Their ministry is far-reaching, but it started with arranging the table.

When Tony Evans was ten years old, his dad became a believer, and he began to pour into his family while they were seated at the dinner table. He began to organize their table time into impacting teaching that would change the course of their family. Tony Evans in turn made table time a priority with his family setting aside three to four times per week to be with his family for devotions, laughing, joking, and even correcting. Even though he would go back and change some things he did if he could, he credited this one important act in where his children are today.

So my question to you is what is your table time like? What are your conversations like, and what are your children or spouse catching from you?

Is it full of God's goodness? Your table time should be full of scriptures, testimonials, and bringing the focus back to the good things God is doing. We must teach the next generation so that they will set their hope anew on God and will not be rebellious, stubborn, unfaithful, and refusing to give their hearts to God. We can teach them to be thankful and to have His praise continually on their lips.

Is it full of joy? There should be laughing and joking at the table. I'll add an aside here that we have to be careful about sarcasm; we don't want to encourage a biting tongue that creates laughter at someone else's expense. We also don't want to laugh at things that are really characteristics that we should be admiring, but our tables should be places full of joy where it's OK to laugh and to have fun. Laughter helps take away the stress, and it fosters a healthy dose of humility as we learn to laugh at ourselves as well. And let's face it, there are many things that happen each day that are deserving of a deep belly laugh!

Is it a place for correcting? Are we analyzing the days events to see if we're responding to people and circumstances in the right way? Are there things that we need to address to make the family routine run smoother? Are there attitudes and reactions we see that need to be addressed? Don't let bad attitudes, anger, and resentment fester in you or your children. Encourage them to do good to others and to be quick to forgive.

Is it a place where respect is taught? Do you respect each other with how you talk? Do you teach respect for extended family members and anyone else who is not present by not gossiping? Do you teach respect for your church family by fostering a love for her members, obeying your pastor, and being excited about your service? Do you lovingly show your children their responsibility to think better of others than they think of themselves?

Management of your family occurs at the table, and I can think of no better place to teach. Then you will have raised olive trees that will produce fruit for thousands of years, and you will think fondly of the good times around the table.

Scripture references: Psalm 78 and 128