"If you are faithful in little things,
you will be faithful in large ones.
But if you are dishonest in little things,
you won't be honest with greater responsibilities."
Luke 16:10
It is so easy to get carried away talking about BIG PLANS
and emotional highs, that we forget to handle the small
details that God has entrusted to our care.
I get asked almost daily when we are going to build a bigger
Sanctuary to hold all the people at church.
My heart tells me that God won't increase our ministry until
we take care of the people he has already sent us.
There is an old Pastor's saying, "If you want to tell the parents
you love them -- then love their children."
Actions speak louder than words.
So we have to learn how to lovingly care for the nursery babies,
and the small toddlers in a way that reveals Gods love. BEFORE
God will increase our ministry and send us herds of teenagers.
This principle works wonders in our relationships.
If you doubt this, guys, fail to notice your spouse got her hair cut.
I rest my case.
Pastor Rick Warren says that a good definition of
LOVE is ATTENTION.
If you love someone, you will make them a priority and
will make time for them. Priorities never conflict.
It seems like there are levels of details in relationships.
There are the "Clear and Present Danger" moments
(birthdays, Valentines Day, Christmas, Anniversary....).
There are the "Shock & Awe" moments
(unexpected "not buying my way out of trouble" gifts).
There are the "You Did What? WHY?" moments
(the meat and potatoes of relationships)
I am writing this from the school of hard knocks and have only completed the 1st grade.
This is an important area and all of us need to be aware of it.
For more details, read Gary Chapman's amazing book: "The 5 Love Languages".
I focused on "relationships" in this blog because
your relationship with God
is revealed in your relationships with other people.
If someone says, “I love God,”
but hates a Christian brother or sister,
that person is a liar;
for if we don’t love people we can see,
how can we love God, whom we cannot see?
And he has given us this command:
Those who love God must also love
their Christian brothers and sisters.".
1John 4:20-21
Your love for one another will prove
to the world that you are my disciples.”
John 13:35
Our spiritual take-away from this is:
"What does the quality of your relationships
(home, work, neighbors, waitresses....)
reveal about your relationship with God?"
THIS IS GOOD AND HOW DO YOU LOVE YOUR NIEGHBOR WHO YOU TRUSTED ! GOES AROUND TALKING BEHIND YOUR BACK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY? i KNOW YOU CAN FORGIVE THEM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK INTO THE SAME SITUATION....i WOULD SET MY BOUNDRIES THATS FOR SURE GAURD MY HEART, PRAY FOR THAT PERSON... BUT YOU WOULD NOT CATCH ME HAVING COFFEE WITH THEM....
ReplyDeleteLOVE:Giving someone what they NEED the most when they deserve it the LEAST at GREAT personal cost to you without getting ANYTHING in return.
ReplyDeleteNOW, I am a real world guy with extensive real world experience ~ I spent 20 years working in Jail with people you "should" hesitate to take camping with your family.
I will give you one thought and one suggestion.
THOUGHT: Reconciliation is between You and the person that offended you. Forgiveness is between You and God.
Some people refuse to ask for forgiveness or have no desire to make things right.... you are not left hanging.
This is a process but you can achieve PEACE ~ even though you don't get your relationship back to the same place it was before the problem.
SUGGESTION: read R.T. Kendall's book, "Total Forgiveness"
MUST DO: Memorize Philippians 4:8 & Ephesians 4:32 & Colossians 3:13 & Matthew 6:14-15