Day 290: How to Treat Family

1 Timothy 5:1-20; Jeremiah 1-2; Psalm 119:145-176  

Paul instructs Timothy about caring for family. He says, "People who don't take care of their relatives, and especially their own families, have given up their faith. They are worse than someone who doesn't have faith in The Lord." What this makes me think of are the times when I and other people get mad at family or treat them poorly (teenager rebellion, anyone?) and then we turn around and are kind and generous with a complete stranger or someone we hardly know. I try to keep myself on track with Paul's teaching by reminding myself that if I am going to be loving to anyone, it better first be my husband, followed by my family. If I can't be kind to them, why should I bother being kind to strangers? Our family, because God has given us our family for a reason, deserves love and kindness. May we learn to treat our families with grace and compassion and set a good example for our children and for others.

At the beginning of Jeremiah, we see this cool moment between him and God. The Lord tells him that he will be a messenger to the people. Jeremiah at first feels very unqualified, he's too young, not experienced, etc. God tells him, if I choose you, I will provide for you. Jeremiah doesn't have to, nor should he, rely on his own strength and abilities that he thinks he possesses. God is going to give him exactly what he needs to do the work God has sent him to do. What is also cool is that God tells Jeremiah that there will be people who reject him, who want to harm him. God's like, "hey, I'm sending you to these people, and by the way, they will want to kill you." Oh. But, God also gives him the promise of protection and encourages Jeremiah to be bold and brave. If God is going to send us, he will equip us. That doesn't mean our life will be easy with no setbacks, but that God will come through for us.

God also points out in Jeremiah that the nation of Israel  has done something that no other nation has ever done: abandon its gods. God points out that other nations who worship false gods remain faithful to them, even to death. But the Israelites, for some crazy reason, are willing to abandon THE God who created them. How amazing and sad is that. The one God who can actually do something, the one God who is actually worthy of worship, the one God who is alive and real, they (and people today) reject and trade for lies. So sad and crazy. And that's why God tells them that all their suffering is their own fault. They chose to stop following God and replace him with something worthless. As he tells them, "Your own sins will punish you." God offers so much more than any idols could ever hope to provide.

What is interesting about this psalm is that in the midst of troubles, when he staring his enemies in the eyes, when he feels broken and worthless, he turns to God's word. There is complete dependence on God's teachings. It's not just an "oh, that's nice. I'll use it when it's convenient." Instead, he trusts, depends, leans on the words of The Lord for safety, healing, strength.