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Family First?

    With Father's Day coming up tomorrow and Mother's Day only a short time ago, we are in a season where America honors their families. Most of us are taught that "family is everything" for our whole lives. Family first, then everything else. Where does Jesus fall in your list of priorities? Is He after the "family first" doctrine? Maybe he's even after your friends, your job, and some other important things in your life.

    I want to address the lie that family is everything. Jesus Himself put His Heavenly Father above all else, not His earthly father. We should be doing the same. We subject our lives to be run by whatever is most important to us. Whatever is most important to us controls us. When we put ourselves under the control of other flawed humans, we set ourselves up for a less than ideal lifestyle. We cannot live according to the whims of those around us!

2 Peter 2:19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. (NLT)

    Having Jesus first in your life means choosing to follow everything good for your life. He is never changing and will always stay true to His perfect character. His will for you is to have a wonderful and joyful life in Him. Who better to follow than the one who created you to begin with? Don't get me wrong, family is wonderful! Jesus blessed you with your specific family for a reason. We are to love, respect, and cherish them. However, anything put above God is extremely harmful to us.

Malachi 3:6 I the Lord do not change. (NIV)

 Ecclesiastes 7:20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. (ESV)

Psalm 31:19 How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. (NLT)

Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (ESV)

     Do not let the world tell you what is most important, but allow Jesus to dictate what is good for your life. I promise you He will not let you down. I will leave you with His own words about family.

Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. (ESV)

Luke 8:19-21 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” (ESV)

 Matthew 10:37 Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (NIV)

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