Hate is a strong word. Obviously Jesus doesn't want us to "Hate" anyone. But He does want us to love Him more than anyone or anything. He knows that if we love Him more then our lives will be balanced. I remember awhile back ago a Pastor told me this is the "priority formula" 1. God- He is first in our lives 2. Spouse/Family- we love our spouse and our children 3. Job- God wants us to provide for our family 4. Church- we need to be faithful to our church. A solider signs up out of love and duty for their country. The promise is made to defend the country against all enemies both foreign and domestic. When we sign up for God's army we promise to defend the faith and to combat against the enemy who wants to destroy people in our world. The war is real are we ready for the battle? I give allegiance to the Lamb of God.
I find it hard to reconcile this quote with the rest of the Bible. I don't think God would want us to hate anyone. But the implied meaning is very understandable. Loyalty to ones family can be a hindrance to ones loyalty to Christ. In many cultures to leave the families faith practices can mean shunning and even death. This was true in the Jewish culture. Don't forget Jesus was speaking to all cultures for all times. We have it much easier in a land of religious freedom. But still we must keep our priorities in line. Interesting Jesus didn't include the immediate so to speak nuclear family in this quote but your childhood family (mother, father, sisters, brothers). Much like in Genesis when God said man would leave his "folks" and cleave to his wife. Hmmmmmm
I hear a lot of people asking for things to be "simple" or "easy." Unfortunately, what I find that many of them are asking for, is that they not have to do any work to achieve what they are looking for. Laziness -- an epidemic!!
Think about it.... for those of you with careers.... when you first start a new job, especially if it is in a new field, it seems VERY DIFFICULT! Why? Because it is "foreign" to you... but as you stay, get more comfortable, more familiar with your job... it becomes almost second nature, and then it is "easy." Relationships... friends or romantically speaking.... when you are going through tough times with a person you haven't known very long, it is more difficult than going through a tough time with someone you are familiar with. Why? Because you can't predict what the new person will do.... the person you are familiar with you can EXPECT certain things from.
It is the same in building your relationship with Christ. You have to invest time and energy into getting to know Him -- by spending time with Him in prayer, and by learning about who He is by reading His word. As you become more and more familiar with Him, you know what to EXPECT from Him, and it becomes second nature to walk in good times and in adversity with Him. There is not a "simple" or "easy" way to do it -- it requires time and energy.
What does that have to do with "hate" you ask?? You become sold out for anyone or anything that you devote large amounts of time to. If you truly put Christ first, then what matters to Him, matters to you! God does not want you to HATE your family or friends-- in fact, as you learn how to love Him, that love will transfer to all other relationships, improving them all! But He is a jealous God -- He expects that He will hold position #1 in your life -- above family, friends, neighbors, strangers, jobs, hobbies, sports, TV, books, computers, cars..... above ALL!!
Are we willing to sell out for the cause of Christ?? Are we willing to put in the time and the energy to learn about the cause by reading the Bible and communicating with our Maker? Are we willing to lose it all, so we can find ourself? NJ
Hate is a strong word but it does get our attention. I do believe that we do not know how to love until we love Jesus - put Him first and seek to be like Him. The more we love Him the more our love for others grows. Many times our family relations are not healthy. Only God can truly heal us and our families and if we do not know Him - who He is and who He isn't - we can never truly love others the way God intended.
I love my family very much and I love God much more than them but even all that cannot compare to how great God's love for me is. I try everyday to put God first and love Him the most else and I do hate those and the things that compete for and with my love for God.
Hate is a strong word. Obviously Jesus doesn't want us to "Hate" anyone. But He does want us to love Him more than anyone or anything. He knows that if we love Him more then our lives will be balanced. I remember awhile back ago a Pastor told me this is the "priority formula" 1. God- He is first in our lives 2. Spouse/Family- we love our spouse and our children 3. Job- God wants us to provide for our family 4. Church- we need to be faithful to our church. A solider signs up out of love and duty for their country. The promise is made to defend the country against all enemies both foreign and domestic. When we sign up for God's army we promise to defend the faith and to combat against the enemy who wants to destroy people in our world. The war is real are we ready for the battle? I give allegiance to the Lamb of God.
ReplyDeleteI find it hard to reconcile this quote with the rest of the Bible. I don't think God would want us to hate anyone. But the implied meaning is very understandable. Loyalty to ones family can be a hindrance to ones loyalty to Christ. In many cultures to leave the families faith practices can mean shunning and even death. This was true in the Jewish culture. Don't forget Jesus was speaking to all cultures for all times. We have it much easier in a land of religious freedom. But still we must keep our priorities in line. Interesting Jesus didn't include the immediate so to speak nuclear family in this quote but your childhood family (mother, father, sisters, brothers). Much like in Genesis when God said man would leave his "folks" and cleave to his wife. Hmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteI hear a lot of people asking for things to be "simple" or "easy." Unfortunately, what I find that many of them are asking for, is that they not have to do any work to achieve what they are looking for. Laziness -- an epidemic!!
ReplyDeleteThink about it.... for those of you with careers.... when you first start a new job, especially if it is in a new field, it seems VERY DIFFICULT! Why? Because it is "foreign" to you... but as you stay, get more comfortable, more familiar with your job... it becomes almost second nature, and then it is "easy." Relationships... friends or romantically speaking.... when you are going through tough times with a person you haven't known very long, it is more difficult than going through a tough time with someone you are familiar with. Why? Because you can't predict what the new person will do.... the person you are familiar with you can EXPECT certain things from.
It is the same in building your relationship with Christ. You have to invest time and energy into getting to know Him -- by spending time with Him in prayer, and by learning about who He is by reading His word. As you become more and more familiar with Him, you know what to EXPECT from Him, and it becomes second nature to walk in good times and in adversity with Him. There is not a "simple" or "easy" way to do it -- it requires time and energy.
What does that have to do with "hate" you ask?? You become sold out for anyone or anything that you devote large amounts of time to. If you truly put Christ first, then what matters to Him, matters to you! God does not want you to HATE your family or friends-- in fact, as you learn how to love Him, that love will transfer to all other relationships, improving them all! But He is a jealous God -- He expects that He will hold position #1 in your life -- above family, friends, neighbors, strangers, jobs, hobbies, sports, TV, books, computers, cars..... above ALL!!
Are we willing to sell out for the cause of Christ?? Are we willing to put in the time and the energy to learn about the cause by reading the Bible and communicating with our Maker? Are we willing to lose it all, so we can find ourself? NJ
Hate is a strong word but it does get our attention. I do believe that we do not know how to love until we love Jesus - put Him first and seek to be like Him. The more we love Him the more our love for others grows. Many times our family relations are not healthy. Only God can truly heal us and our families and if we do not know Him - who He is and who He isn't - we can never truly love others the way God intended.
ReplyDeleteI am reminded of the saying "there is a thin line between love and hate".... does this play into these thoughts??
ReplyDeleteCheryl - I too - am SO grateful for the healing that Christ brings to relationships!
I love my family very much and I love God much more than them but even all that cannot compare to how great God's love for me is. I try everyday to put God first and love Him the most else and I do hate those and the things that compete for and with my love for God.
ReplyDelete