How many of you have a family? A husband and children? A mom or dad? Brothers or sisters? What are your viewpoints on family value? Did you know that God is greatly and exceedingly pleased when we unconditionally love our families?

Many women and men alike take for granted the great and awesome gift of family life. We desire friends and approval from other people while God is waiting for you to embrace the sweet fellowship of the ultimate friendship found in the family that He has sovereignly and purposely placed you in.

I know that at one point we all struggle with enjoying family time and family life and traditions but we need to recognize the depth and importance of having a healthy and Godly relationship with each person in our immediate family. I want to explain to you just how intrinsically valuable you are to your family and they to you. But in order to understand that we need to go back and explore God’s Word and what He says about family. Let’s get started!

Family is Ultimately the Building Block of Human Society as a Whole. Nations, governments, countries and empires of old and new were built on strong family traditions and backgrounds. The first family in the Bible was given this command by God: “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’” Genesis 1:28

Your family is important not only to you but to your church and community and the nation. I’m not just saying that either. You can make a difference by establishing beautiful, long lasting relationships with everyone in your family. As it turns out, stronger families have a bigger impact on other people’s lives than weak, unstable family relationships. By recognizing the importance of family life, you will be able to catch a long term vision of the beauty that comes with having a firm, biblical family foundation. You will also catch on to God’s vision which is found in John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”

By loving your family, you’re an example to everyone you come in contact with and known as a “disciple”. In essence, you are spreading the gospel and love of God by being a servant and loving member of your immediate, God-given family.

Families Make for Great Memories! Friends are awesome, families rock! You may feel like making friends and hanging out with buddies will be more fun, more satisfying and more worthwhile, but this is a misconception. God gave us families to make memories with, love, laugh and live together for the strengthening of our soul and preserving of our faith. While we won’t be together forever, the memories we make and friendships we establish will go with us to the even to the grave.

Who will you call when you go through a heartbreaking experience? Who will you tell first when you find out the joyous news of becoming pregnant? Who will you cry with when a parent or grandparent passes away? Your family is your most invaluable source of love and support. Invest all that you can in that knowledge.

(I know that not everyone’s families are supportive and close knit. There are abusive parents and cruel siblings. But don’t use this as an excuse to remove them from your mind. Make it your mission to pray fervently for their souls. God has placed you there for a reason even if you cannot see what that reason is. He works all things together for good! You never know the power of prayer until you try it.)

There are so many ways you can connect to your family on so many different levels!  Try the “Instead Of” method. For example:

Instead of checking my phone and all of the social media apps I will: Play a board game with my family.
Instead of going to coffee with a friend I will: take my sister to the park.
Instead of reading my book I will: bake a treat for my brothers.

Everyone can come up with a set of their own “Instead Of’s” and practice them on a daily basis. I encourage you to start thinking outside of the box. Grudgingly living in a family isn’t really living at all. Renew your mindset with truths from the bible about families. Observe a godly family at church and engage in conversations with others that include stories about your family and theirs. Read books that are focused on family morals and lifestyles. Encourage your family to spend more quality time doing things worthwhile that will make great memories.

You can always be at home and see your family members but are you really present? Are you tuned into the needs and feelings of those you are surrounded by? Are you really there heart, mind and soul? Make a goal to invest your time and presence into your family this week. Tell each person how much you truly care for them. Use communication and reach to the heart of your children, husband, parents, and siblings.

I’ve always loved this verse and have several painting with this verse hanging on my walls:

“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Don’t forget to include The Lord in everything that you do. He alone has the power to strengthen and establish family relationships in the way that He has intended.

Tell us in the comments!
How will you include yourself more in family settings?
How important is your family to you on a scale of 1-10?
Will you choose to invest in your family relationships?

Thank you for reading this. I hope it has blessed you! Let me know what you think. God bless.