Yet when it comes down to it, people will use any reason not to live out what we tell God we are willing to do, or give up.  It’s difficult to give up certain foods, our time, the television, the computer time that erases hours of our lives, but especially time that we hold in high esteem.  For some that time is work.  “Work?!” - yes, there are those who will give hours and hours to work, usually not considering that their commitment to God is being ignored as their work consumes their life and time.  For others it’s family. “Family?!  But isn’t family supposed to be #2 behind God?”  Well, if God is #1, then there really are no other priorities behind God.  Because as soon as we slip anything else in as a priority as soon as that issue meets with conflict with God, He will slip from the #1 slot.

No where in God’s Word, the Bible, does it say that we are to “Focus on the Family”; our focus is to be on God.  We can read verses where Jesus says, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple.  And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26-27 NIV.  Now I know that in the Hebrew mindset the word love means to choose and hate means not to choose, but even with that definition in our hearts, Jesus makes it very clear that who we choose, even if it’s family, proves whether or not we are truly committed followers of Him, because that’s what a disciple is, a committed follower of Jesus Christ.  So many “believers” have fallen into the trap that we in America have believed for years, “Family is the most important thing.”  Jesus loved His family, but His love for His Heavenly Father was the greatest love, and that love never took second place to family outings (Luke 3:41-52), family desires (Matthew 12:46-50), fun or rare opportunities, or anything that attempted to sidetrack Him or distract Him from advancing God’s Kingdom.

What am I saying?  Be careful when you tell God I’ll do anything you want because He might take you up on it and tell you to do something that conflicts with your child’s softball game, parents anniversary, or family gatherings of any nature.  Be careful because God hears everything you tell Him, keeps track of what you promise Him or commit to Him, and be especially careful of covenants you make – they are after all legal and binding contracts between God and you. Oh yeah, in case you think you’re off the hook because there weren’t any witnesses to your covenant or commitment with God – even the rocks hear what we say (Joshua 24:27).  Do we mean it when we tell God we’ll do whatever He wants?  Next time a work, family or “fun opportunity” comes up that conflicts with what you have told God you will do, I guess you’ll find out.  The choice, as they say, is up to you.

His servant – Pastor Russ