Allow me to go down memory lane for a moment. I am reflecting on a series of events in my life in May 2016. For me, it was a loaded week or so. But also, it was a profound reminder of the need to value the relationships God has blessed each of us with.
It all started on my birthday, which was on a Wednesday. I hadn’t planned on doing much to celebrate because I had a big weekend ahead. My wife and I went out to dinner, and that was the end of it—so I thought.
When I arrived home from the office the next day, however, I saw about a half dozen cars parked outside my home. My wife and children had pulled one over on me. They had assembled a small gathering to help me celebrate my birthday.
The next day, Friday morning, we drove 500 miles to Virginia Beach, VA. My oldest son was scheduled to graduate from college on Saturday morning.
I enjoyed the time in Virginia being with my family and celebrating my son’s graduation. My wife and I were blessed to have all six of our children with us. We also had our three grandchildren with us in Virginia. You can see all of us in the photo accompanying this blog post.
The climax of the weekend was that Sunday, which happened to be Mother’s Day. We started the morning at a mega church my son attends. There, I witnessed one of the most phenomenal Mother’s Day services I have ever been a part of. The entire service was focused upon ministering to the mothers, no matter where they happened to be in life.
But the main point I want to underscore in this post is the time my wife and I shared with our children. This was so special to us. She could not have asked for a better Mother’s Day present. We bought a few gifts for her. But the gifts she did receive paled in comparison to the special time we enjoyed together.
A Priceless Lesson I Learned about Valuing Relationships
When I first became a young pastor—almost 40 years ago–some older pastors gave me something that was priceless. They advised me to place God first, family second, and church work third.
Over time, I understood how important that motto was. I witnessed a few pastors who made the mistake of placing the work of the ministry first and they lost their family in the process. A pastor or church worker who does this is not a good example to the body of Christ. We should make it our business to exemplify what it means to value the relationships God has blessed us with.
Based on the aforementioned motto, we must make God first in our life. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind,” Jesus said (Matthew 22:37, NASB). That means we are to love God with everything that is in us. Jesus referred to this as the greatest commandment.
No other relationship we have is more important than our relationship with God. Only when He is first in our life can anyone else be in the right place in our life.
I said all of this to say, let us learn to value the relationships God has blessed us with. Money and success in life have their place. But they can’t measure up to the benefits of having wholesome relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. These relationships are the kind of gifts that keep on giving.
First and foremost, I thank God for my personal relationship with Christ. Secondly, I thank Him for the relationships I have with those special people He has placed in my life. I value these more than any material thing on earth. Hopefully, you feel the same way.
Copyright © 2022 by Frank King. All rights reserved.