Family First

WHAT’S IT GONNA BE?


This is written to all who put God, church service, career, hobbies before spouse and children. Most families have their priorities mixed up and that’s a shame. I find it disheartening when I learn of organized churches with classes for divorced members. Perhaps if they didn’t have so many functions for the members to be consumed by, they could put each other first as they should and there wouldn’t be a need for such a class.


I Corinthians 7:21-40 “Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.”


Paul’s point? Married people put their spouse first, therefore, don’t be married so you can put God first. But he also made the point that marrying is not a sin. It’s pretty simple. You should put each other first and foremost. If that means missing a few “worship services” so be it; if that means stepping down from some committee, so be it; whatever it takes.


I know there is the scripture which says “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…” Hebrews 10:25. Don’t let the misuse of this scripture con you into abandoning your priorities. Forsaking does not mean refusing to attend an organized church meeting. According to Webster’s 1828 dictionary (and current ones as well) it means:


1. To quit or leave entirely; to desert; to abandon; to depart from.
2. To abandon; to renounce; to reject.
3. To leave; to withdraw from.


Scripture always defines itself. We can verify the definition of the word by going elsewhere Mark 15:34 “…My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (The subject of “assembling” is distorted in today’s organized religion.) Don’t let anyone try to tell you what scripture actually means, you don’t need anyone to: 1 John 2:27 “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”


John McCain’s slogan “Country First” was not only a socialist slogan, it was a heretical statement and conjured an incorrect way of thinking and living. “Country First” my ass, “Family First” is the way to go; strong families make for a strong, stable and sane populace.


Just keep a couple things in mind


1. If you are married—your first and foremost concern and responsibility is to your spouse, not someone’s idea christian or national service. If you do make your spouse and family your first concern, you will have your priorities in order and your family will be stronger and closer than ever.


2. Whether you are married or not and attend an organized church, you need to examine everything you do in light of the Scripture. If it is not clearly stated there, then it is extra-biblical and just as bad as unbiblical.


3. What’s it gonna be? Continue in the ways which come between you and your family; or begin putting each other first?