Important Interrupted!

Sometimes we are involved in important things that get interrupted for one reason or another. Perhaps we have experienced being focused on work that needs to be done and then something happens that destroys the focus, and no matter how hard we try we just can’t continue with what we were doing. At such times we may have to walk away and either deal with the situation or -- if it is something we cannot change -- we may need to go do something else to either clear our mind or get our mind off of it before returning to complete our task.

There are situations when there is the need for our focus to be interrupted rather than being allowed to carry on with the present task. In Jesus’ sermon on the mount He addressed such a situation in the setting of Jewish worship.

We read…
“(23) So if you are offering your gift at the altar AND THERE REMEMBER that your brother has something against you, (24) LEAVE YOUR GIFT there before the altar AND GO. FIRST BE RECONCILED to your brother, and THEN COME AND OFFER your gift.” ( Matthew 5:23-24 ESV)

Was making the offering important? Yes! Is worship to God something we ought not neglect? Most certainly! However, Jesus appears to have pointed out that one cannot approach God in worship acceptably when there has not been an effort to rectify OTHER RELATIONSHIPS. Our RELATIONSHIP to God necessitates -- as far as it depends on us ( Romans 12:18) -- approaching our OTHER RELATIONSHIPS properly. (note 1 John 4:20-21) Jesus did not say, “Hurry up and offer the gift so you can then go and take care of the situation.” As one was there prepared to make the offering and had their actions interrupted by the remembrance of a RELATIONSHIP that was not right, they were to stop what they were doing, go take care of the situation, and then return to complete the offering. That reveals how seriously RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS are to be considered. Peter later wrote that a husband’s prayers could be hindered if he did not approach the RELATIONSHIP with his wife in a proper manner. ( 1 Peter 3:7)

As we seek to retain a proper RELATIONSHIP with God, let us be mindful of our OTHER RELATIONSHIPS as well, understanding how it is all linked together. When even our important activities are interrupted by such remembrance may we be thankful our heart has not become hardened toward others. We may not be able to right all RELATIONSHIPS, but we are responsible for doing what we can. Let us seek God’s wisdom in doing so.

Have a great day RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Relationships