Commitment to Family

Today we look at commitment to your family.  How committed are you to your family?  Most people would probably say they are very committed.  You may work hard outside of the home to be able to provide your family the "nicer things" of life.  You may have made the decision to not work outside of the home so you can raise your own children and not leave them to a babysitter or a service.  Some of you may not have children, but work to serve your spouse and your parents.  But are your truly committed to them?  Take a few moments to honestly answer the following questions.

When you are together, are you really together?  Are you only physically present, or are you also spiritually and emotionally present?  Does your family get your undivided attention or is it constantly interrupted by phones and computers?  Are you always multitasking trying to accomplish your interests and their needs at the same time, resulting in everything being done halfheartedly?  Do you make eye contact for longer than 10 seconds with each member of your family? Are you slowing down enough to really listen?  Are you taking time to learn ways to love and motivate each member?  Are you truly putting effort into your relationships? 

And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.  repeat them again and again to your children.  Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.  (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

One of our ultimate goals in life should be to motivate our families to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and strength.  We must pray and speak blessings over them daily!  Maybe today you find yourself struggling with a family member.  You feel tired and worn out, and you don't believe you have what it takes to motivate them to be all that God has called them to be.  Perhaps it's a spouse, a child, a parent or a sibling that continues to burden your heart. You may get to the point of losing hope that things will ever change.  Don't believe this lie!  Hold on!  The Bible says do not grow weary in well doing.  Keep investing into your commitment to your family.  Keep fighting for them!

So let's not get tired of doing what is good.  At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.  (Galatians 6:9)

Throughout the Bible, God reveals himself as the God of households.  Remember, where God calls the individual, He also calls the family.  If you are moving forward and your family is taking a backseat or there are numerous distractions in your life taking you away from your family, you must slow down and seek His wisdom.  If moving forward means leaving your family behind, it is likely that it is not God's calling on your life, or not God's timing for this calling. 

You cannot motivate your family to love the Lord if you do not take the time to love them.  Take time today to reconnect with your family.  Turn off the technology and listen to them.  Ask questions and find a renewed and refreshed interest in what interests them.  (...Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2: 3b-4)  Stick to your commitment remembering that the results are up to God!