READ Luke 10:38-42
REFLECT
Have you ever had someone over for dinner and felt exhausted afterwards? The busyness of cleaning the house and preparing the meal, coupled with the social stress of entertaining, can sometimes take so much of our focus that we forget to prioritize the importance of our relationship with our guests. In the midst of doing, we miss the conversation, laughter, memories, and relationship.
Mary and Martha are a picture of that tension. While both Mary and Martha would argue that their relationship with Jesus was important, Mary was the one who chose to make that relationship a priority, the choice to be present. Martha, on the other hand, chose to be busy.
Would you say that relationships are a priority in your life? Or would you say that the choice to be busy outranks the choice to be present?
If we want to be FOR the people in our lives and live out the great commandment of loving our “neighbour,” we need to make the time to be present – to be available and intentional.
Your relational priorities determine your relational capacity.
Your ability to prioritize relationships with your family, your friends, your co-worker, or your neighbour determines your capacity to be FOR them. To be in their corner and authentically connect with them.
People will know that God is FOR them when they know that you are FOR them. When you choose to make the time to be relationally present. To be available and intentional. That’s when God shows up in your story and in theirs.
Being FOR the people in your life is not about adding something to your to-do list but prioritizing the importance of relationships.
BOTTOM LINE
Your relational priorities determine your relational capacity.
LIVE
In order to be present for the people I want to impact, it means that I need to prioritize them.
Maybe my house isn’t as clean as I hoped, but I’m going to invite them over for coffee anyhow.
I was hoping to get some housework done, but my schedule may need to shift to help a friend with a project or talk to a neighbour who needs a friend.
It’s hard to find a free night and get a babysitter so we can connect with that couple over dinner, but we’re going to try to make it work.
I may need to give up a lunch break or a Saturday morning, but it’s worth it to build a relationship with someone who’s new to my workplace or my neighbourhood.
The great thing about learning to be present with the people you’re FOR is that it changes all of your relationships for the better. Your boyfriend or spouse, your kids, and even your boss could all use someone who is a little more present with them.
PRAY
God, I want to be FOR the people in my life who need someone in their corner. I pray that you would speak to me about my need to prioritize relationships in my life and give me the courage to make the choices I need to make that happen.
