Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV) 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
God has put us here to be a light to those around us.
Each and every one of us has people that are in our immediate circle of family and friends; those we are closest to.
These are the people we need to be shining His light on, sharing His love, grace, mercy and compassion with.
Many times it seems that we tend to forget those we are closest to and we spend our time and effort reaching out to others who are more distant and further away from us. It isn’t usually on purpose. It just kind of happens.
But God wants us to focus on those closest to us first. And when we have done everything we should do for those closest to us, then and only then should we be spending time on those outside of our immediate circle of people.
If we are married and have a spouse, our time and effort should be on our spouse first. Then, if we have young children, they should be next. Usually our spouse and our children will be enough to take up the vast majority of our time.
If we have no spouse and no children, then we are free to help others a little more often. But we still need to start with those closest to us.
Many marriages are at risk of failing because we get our priorities mixed up and neglect our spouses. And many children grow up thinking it’s normal for their parents to be out helping others all the time while their emotional and physical needs go unmet.
Part of fixing this problem is making sure we aren’t allowing others to pressure or manipulate us into always being on the run, helping them with their “needs”. Many times, those who appear to be the neediest can get by just fine if we aren’t always running to help them.
We need to let God’s spirit help us with this. He will show us and lead us when it comes to prioritizing these kinds of things. And He will show us who genuinely needs our help if we let Him.
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808
401-315-0902
If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!
To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page.
Please consider making a Donation.
Get our mobile app here:
Android: http://goo.gl/oQ6qa7
Apple: http://apple.co/2lZdgYy
Pastor I want to say thank you for today’s word, before my children were born I was always out there in the world traveling working with young people doing community out reach. Well I keep on going even when my four children were born I was always traveling with young life ministry always gone. In 1999 thing turned around and in that process I thought this is not God am supposed to be there reaching out to those family not realizing that my four children need me more than having a home and food it was time for me to stop what I was doing and do as today’s word said. From that time to this day I say it’s very important to listen and do as God leads. Today all I can say thank you Lord!! . Three have graduated college two having a successful career and one going to medical school and the baby in college by the way me being there my daughter while in high school she won a documentary award beating all the professionals. So today’s word mean a lot to me. Thank you. .
Joseph, you’re very welcome 🙂