Faithful in Family Matters
Twice in 1 Timothy 3, Paul talks about being faithful in the context of family. First we read about overseers of churches: "He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)" (1 Timothy 3:4-5)
Then: "A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well." (1 Timothy 3:12)
What Paul Says About Faithfulness at Home
When you think of 'ministry', do you think of pastoring churches, or going to the mission field to tell people in remote villages about Jesus? Or do you think, first of all, of your family?
James Dobson died last year. He formed Focus on the Family, which - according to their website - "is a global Christian ministry dedicated to helping families thrive." They have a wealth of content on marriage, parenting, and more - because in the end, your family is your first ministry.
If you can't minister to your family, says Paul, how can you minister to your church?
When Church Work Crowds Out Home
I'm not suggesting perfection here. There is no perfect family, and your ministering to your family can sometimes be as frustrating and fruitless as a church ministry, but the point is: are you ministering in your marriage, to your kids, to your parents, to your grandparents? Or has family fallen by the wayside in your priorities?
It's so easy to miss this, friends! It's so easy to neglect your family, as you get busy with other things. Church things even! In fact Pastor Gary Black wrote an article called How the Ministry Kept Me From Jesus. He speaks openly about some of his struggles, and this section of his article got me:
"The Lord showed me that my most important ministry is my family, not my church. He also showed me some tremendous inconsistencies in that area of my life:
- As a pastor I had been positive and pleasant; at home I had been melancholy and morose.
- As a pastor I continually solved problems; at home I often created them.
- As a pastor I was patient and compassionate; at home I was quick-tempered and insensitive.
Clearly I was missing God's best for my family, and I determined to change. I prayed that God would give me back the years the locusts had eaten, and graciously, He has."
What It Looks Like to Minister at Home
You may not be a pastor, but do you find that your family sometimes gets the worst of you? That at home, you are a problem-creator, insensitive and careless?
What if God is calling you today to be a minister at home? To serve more graciously at home? To listen more thoughtfully and encourage more enthusiastically at home? To be more present and not be on your own mission at home? To pray or read the Bible with the family at home?
Perhaps your family is thirsting for your spiritual leadership. Paul says you want to be faithful to your calling? Start at home.
Ministry starts at home, long before it reaches the pulpit or the mission field.