God First, Then The Rest

Is it God, church and then family? Or God, family and church?

God first means that without God, I can do nothing (John 15:7). Keeping God first helps us build our lives so we can help build others.

What comes next? Church or family?

If God is first, then what comes next will be an outcome of your personal relationship with God. It will be church or family.

NEW FAMILY

The church is the new family in Christ. As believers, we need to work towards building this new family. The salvation of souls and the growth of existing believers are needs that eventually benefit the earthly family as well.

When the earthly family is saved, everyone pitches in - me and my house will serve the Lord (Joshua).

When the earthly family is unsaved, the believer must spend quality time with the earthly family. Quality time in short refers to meeting their mental, emotional and physical needs in a way that helps the unsaved family eventually experience the love of God through the believing person AND the new family in Christ.

SERVE GOD and He will take care of all your needs.

• Paul encouraged believers to serve God without distraction (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). Not at the cost of family, but together, in oneness.

• Aquilla and Priscilla served God along with the apostles

• Jesus attended to Peter's mother-in-law and healed her. He did not ignore family needs though His own rejected Him. (Matthew 8:14)

• Stephanas and his household served the Lord (Acts )

When Christ is the centre of our lives, every other need is met by His grace. Most believers today lack the knowledge of God's word and are pressured by spiritual bullies.

Wake up to God's word. We live by every word that proceeds from God (Matthew 4:4).

Maranatha, Praise God, and Amen.