Time part 3
Mother Teresa said, "If you want to change the world, go home and love your family." I couldn't agree more. The most important people--the people you have the most influence over and connection with--in your life are the ones you live with on a daily basis. Those are the people you can really pour yourself into. Look at 1 Timothy 5:8, "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." I don't know why, but it seems like sometimes--oftentimes--we lose how important people are in this whole thing. I can't tell you how many times I've seen someone choose "God" (or "religion," or going to church, or "I need to pray about it") over people. When, in fact, the only way to truly choose God is to choose people. We love God BY loving people. It's that simple. Whatever you do unto the least of them you do unto God. How we treat people is how we treat God. How we relate to each other--the relationships we have with each other--is how we relate to God. Neglecting people so you can spend time with God is not really spending time with God at all. And, listen, I'm not saying you should never be alone. I'm not saying you shouldn't spend time in prayer. Things of that nature. What I'm simply saying is: When Jesus wanted to get away and be with His Father... but people needed Him... He chose people every single time. Love God and love people. Love God BY loving people. You can't throw people over in order to serve God. Because that's not serving Him. That's not what He wants you to do. If someone asks for help--and I'm not talking about enabling people, but genuinely helping them--I can tell you right now that God wants you to help them. You don't need to "wait for His approval" or wait to feel led. Those who are led by the Spirit are called (or identified as) the Son(s) of God. Jesus said people will know us as His disciples by the love we have one to another. The Spirit leads us to love. Period. What else could the God who is love want us to do? Ask us to do. Equip and empower us to do. He IS love. It's all ABOUT love. And it starts at home. Charity starts at home. There's an old song that says, "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with." But I'm here to say, "Love the people you're with. Period." Let the people who are in your life know that you care. Spend time with them. Give them what you've got. You don't have to change the world. But if you love the people God has put you in contact with--starting right at home--you can change your family's world. You can fill them up with the love that you've been filled up with. You can receive and release the gift that you've been given. You can give it away. You can share it. And by giving it away, by sharing it, you can experience it in a bigger, better, fuller way. Filled to overflowing so that it comes out. Naturally. Time is the one thing you cannot get back. Once it's gone, it's gone. So make sure you're giving it to the right people. The people that God has put you in contact with. The people right in your own home. Charity starts at home. Don't neglect your own. Build those relationships and connections, because they are so vitally important. Give your time where it means the most. That's love!