Choices

Good Morning,

I fear for people who choose their children or family over God. In the book of Matthew, Jesus said, the parents would be set against the children and the children against the parents. Be careful who directs your choices.

Matthew 10:35 ”For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

vs 36 "And a man's foes shall be they of his own household."

You cannot expect to put God first and never cross those you love. There will be a relative, perhaps a close relative, who simply does not see life through your eyes. In the text, Jesus made it clear, that He came to put a variance between family members.  We do not desire that, but if pushed, we will choose that division rather than choose wrong.

Do not feel that you are a terrible failure when a family member, even a child or parent, differs dramatically from you on spiritual matters. Again, Christ came to put a man at variance against his family members.  I know some of the finest Christians who have relatives who tolerate one another at best, and, sometimes, they do not even tolerate them.  Peace and warmth at home are desirable, but not a mandate.

When we start placing a warm and fuzzy relationship with everyone around us above our relationship with Jesus Christ and our obedience to His Book, we are in big trouble. God did not call us to cuddle up to every single person and embrace every corrupt philosophy of life. He said, “Follow me!” Jesus said to deny yourself! He certainly did not want us to forsake the principles of the Scripture to pacify or support some friend or relative.

I have watched parents abandon the church they believed was right to be close to their children or grandchildren. Unbelievable! I see no Scripture that directs us to choose our church based on a relationship with our children or grandchildren.  I have heard parents say, “We have to support our kids.”  I disagree completely. I do not have to support my children unless my children are following the path of righteousness. I am not about to allow a child (especially one whom I taught to tie their shoes) to convince me to abandon what I believe to be right to follow that which he thinks is right.

I like how Joshua said, “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”(Joshua 24:15) He was not looking around at his children, wife, parents, or friends to determine his path. There is no doubt that Joshua was willing to have variance in relationships over the things of God.

Do you remember the story of Abraham? His herdsman, the herdsman of Lot, and his nephew all had conflicts among themselves. It must have been severe enough that it would not be fixed. Therefore, Abraham simply told Lot to go one way, and that he would go the other way; he refused to allow that strife in his household. Abraham had no problem with Lot leaving, even to the tragic world of Sodom and Gomorrah; but he was not going to have wrongdoing under his roof.

Right is not easy, and often uncomfortable, but nonetheless, it is right.

Pastor