“In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” Luke 14:33
Most people love to have other people with them. They like to know that they are loved and cared for by someone else. Along with that, every person loves to have things also. There are very few people who do not like to have things and do not want people in their lives.
The difference in many people is what part do those things and other people play in their lives.
With things, it is very easy to see how important they are to some people. A person who loves his new car, often is outside washing and polishing it nearly every day. Or the person at his job is willing to always do extra work, work extreme long hours and fights for the top position. Most believers have no problem seeing that as idol worship and a bad thing.
One dangerous area Jesus brought up is with people. Many people really love their families–their spouses and their children. They would be willing to do anything for them.
Yes, God wants you to love your family. Yes, you are to take care of your family. However, God does not want you to put your family before Him.
If there is a difference between your family and God, you must choose God’s way first. Seek God first in everything you do. Don’t go, first, to your family.
When you seek God, make sure you are hearing God. He will have you do things that sometimes your family does not like. However, often He will change the hearts of your family and draw them into His will. If you are leading your family towards God each and everyday, they will learn to see God’s desires and be willing to follow them.
God needs to be the first and most important One in your life. Family should be second. Other people third. You, yourself, should be last in your life. This is loving God first, and others second as the Law stated and Jesus repeated.
Are you willing to give up everything and everyone in order to follow God? If not, Jesus said don’t even try, you cannot be His disciple.
I pray today that God will give you the strength to follow Him; that you will consider the cost of following Jesus; that God will help you know when to give up things and people to follow Him; that God will draw others closer to Him through you; and that God will build His kingdom through you.
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