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ROKU AppTeaching Children About the Sabbath: Moving From Our Time to God’s Time
Written by Todd Carey
When most members of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, began to observe God’s seventh-day Sabbath, they also learned that the Sabbath begins at Friday sunset and ends at Saturday sunset. Getting ready to observe God’s gift of this day of rest requires some preparation. How can we teach our children to embrace the arrival of God’s Sabbath?
“What time is sunset!?” I can still hear myself yelling these words to my roommate while he vacuumed the living room carpet.
“Six something!” he cried.
Those were the days before you could log onto a computer and search for sunset times. Those were the days when you looked at a Church bulletin that listed the sunset times. On occasion it was quicker to call Mom and ask her the sunset time rather than search my already overloaded briefcase.
This was usually our routine each Friday afternoon when getting home from work and getting things ready for the Sabbath. I thought to myself, “If I ever get married and have children, how will we ever be prepared to welcome the Sabbath?”
Years have passed since I posed that question to myself, and now I do have a wife and children. The Sabbath still comes each week, but happily, we have made the time prior to the Sabbath a little less hectic around the house. Note I said, “a little less hectic.” By no means are we perfect, but we have set a goal of welcoming the Sabbath, instead of colliding into it!
You do this, and I’ll do that!
Teaching young children about the Sabbath is similar to teaching them how to pick up their toys or rinse their toothbrush. You help them to establish a routine. The giving of instructions to our children and then following up on their progress lets them know we’re interested in their work and completion. Showing appreciation for your child’s work will plant in your child’s mind a desire to help out prior to the arrival of the Sabbath.
God gave certain commands as a reminder of how important the Sabbath is, and parents should echo these to their children beginning with how God views this special 24-hour period. Our children should also see our example when it comes to getting prepared for the Sabbath.
Important to God, important to us
“Hush!” That was the word we heard often as children when Mom was attempting to watch her favorite television show. Mom had worked hard all day, and with five children zooming through the house at light speed, banging, clanging and sometimes disputing, we were totally oblivious to Mom sitting mere feet from the television trying to hear her show.
After a few more “hushes,” Mom finally exclaimed one day that this was her show! It was important to her, and it was discouraging to her that we did not take the time to respect this 30-minute weekly window. My oldest sibling then took the lead in keeping us in line and ensuring that Mom got to watch her show.
When it comes to the keeping of God’s Sabbath, it falls to us as parents to teach our children how important this day is to God, and why it is important to our family. God told the children of Israel, “You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you” (Exodus 31:14). God hallowed the Sabbath by putting His presence in it, which makes it holy.
As parents, we have the wonderful privilege of teaching our children about what is holy. God has set aside holy time, and He also wants His people to be holy. There are many ways to introduce this weekly holy day. Like tithing, God gives us the greater portion when it comes to the number of days we have to complete all our work, hobbies, homework and recreation. Showing our children how we move from our time to God’s time will eventually build a healthy routine that can last.
What time is it?
I no longer have to rummage through my case to find out when the Sabbath begins. In fact, I don’t even have to go to the local website to access sunset times. Our sons now proudly proclaim the sunset time each Friday morning. After years of getting their rooms ready, setting the table, washing the car and, yes, vacuuming, the challenge to embrace the arrival of the Sabbath is part of them.
I don’t use the word “challenge” lightly, because sometimes it can get interesting, as unforeseen things will arise on occasion. God commands us to remember the Sabbath and to keep it holy. It is important to remember to prepare ourselves for the keeping of the Sabbath, which includes training our children on how to transition from our time to God’s time.
Todd Carey serves as a pastor for the Church of God, a Worldwide Association. He and his wife, Gloria, have been married for 24 years and have two sons, Justin and Bronson. Todd and Gloria serve the brethren of Williamsburg, Virginia, and Delmar, Delaware.
For more about the Sabbath and how to prepare for it, see:
