More Important than Family

Luke 8:19-21 Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. 20 And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.” 21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

The Christmas season has past, and likely the families have gathered and gone. Celebrations, laughter, good times, and yes even stresses and strains are behind us. The holiday season brings us together, and brings out the best and worst in us. Family times bring both joy and pain, for Satan can always hurt us the deepest with those closest to us; he always seeks to divide. I lie there reflecting this morning on some of the highs and lows, and the highlight of mine was a stoplight encounter with someone struggling in this life. I was able to share the good news of Jesus, the hope of the next life, and witness God using me to encourage him. I was blessed deeply when I saw him again a few days later, stopping for a quick 15 seconds of encouragement, but seeing his smile encouraged me more than anyone knows. I would have honestly rather spent time with him this Christmas talking about Jesus, than my family exchanging gifts and small talk to pass the time.

What did Jesus say about his “earthly family” here? He said his family was those who obey the word of God. He said he considered the ones who put him above anyone, to be his family. We don’t get that; we don’t understand anyone being above our family. It is slammed all over social media; “nothing more important than family.” It is dredged deep in our society, deep in our physic, evidence of the deep power our sin has within us, the power to still place family above our God. That is biblically wrong, and Jesus points it out all through his gospels, the cost of discipleship to him. Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. How does that line up with our statements of family about everything; how does that align with our hearts for Jesus above everything? Only one thing can be at the top of the list, or there is no first place in our hearts.

Jesus is not saying to not love your spouse, your kids, your mother and father, and anyone else down the genetic line; he is saying to love him more. He is a jealous God that knows your heart, and demands your heart first, for then you will love them as He loves them. You will love them in a way you can’t without loving Jesus more. You will have a depth that only He can know and share, a depth that can rebuke, and a depth that can edify, and depth that only cares for their souls, and not this Christmas season. Loving Jesus more than your family is truly what Christmas is all about, the greatest gift ever, and the only one worth re-gifting.