Family Ties

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Galatians 1:10

Yesterday we looked at the impact of submitting your life to past failures.

Today I want to take a look at another of one of nine areas we

can submit our lives to.

Often we submit our lives to family and their influences.

Is that wrong?

Sometimes it can be.

You see scripture speaks of family that can strengthen or that can inhibit our walk with God. Who can forget the ‘encouragement’ of Jobs’ wife in Job 2:9:

“His wife said to him,

“Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”

Talk about a lack of encouragement!

Jobs’ wife discouraged him at a time when he needed strength and encouragement to trust God in the midst of his struggles.

Her ‘suggestion’ was not subtle.

Sometimes though, we can be drawn, in subtle ways, to submit to the will of our family over the will of God.

Maybe it’s’ just a hint that following God in a certain area is being a bit ‘over the edge’ and not at all appropriate for your station in life.

Remember the comment of David’s wife after David worshipped God?

Her tone was mocking:

“…How the king of Israel has

distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full

view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!...”

David had submitted’ his worship to God and not to others and was mocked for it.

Of course, submission to family influence rather than to God

is not an ‘honor’ that belongs only to wives.

We all have power in our lives to influence loved ones.

When your will and Gods’ will are in conflict, how will you influence those you love?

Will you influence them to submit to you or to submit to God?