Give Yourself First to the Lord

      Many today have trouble in various relationships. Perhaps we are struggling in marriage. Maybe we have problems with our parents or children. For some, we can’t seem to get along with our co-workers or our brethren.

      What is the key to having great relationships with others, whether our spouses, our neighbors, our co-workers, our family or our brethren? II Corinthians 8:5.

      “They first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.”

      The context of this verse actually deals with the relationship of brethren separated by hundreds of miles. The brethren in Jerusalem and Judea were enduring a famine. The brethren throughout Macedonia (Europe) gave above and beyond their ability to help the sufferers of the famine.

      Paul said the generosity of their gift was unexpected, but it occurred because the Macedonian brethren had first given themselves to the Lord. When they did, they naturally worked well in their relationship with their brethren. Because they had given themselves to the Lord, doing His will toward their brethren was simple.

      This principle will actually improve every relationship we have. Regrettably, when we start having relationship problems, instead of giving ourselves to anyone, we usually go into self-preservation mode. We start turning inward and focusing on what we want to receive. We become afraid to give because it makes us vulnerable. Generally, in our rush to protect ourselves we typically do what destroys the relationship and hurts ourselves more.

      However, if we take a completely different approach our relationships will improve. I know the approach is different from what people in the world will tell us, but this is God’s approach. When we want our relationships with people to improve, we must first improve our relationship with God. As I John 4:20-21 and James 2:9-12 imply, when we love God, we will love the people God created and treat them properly.

      The basic point is when we focus on our relationship with God first and give ourselves to Him, then we deal properly with our relationships, not for the sake of those relationships, but for the sake of honoring our first love—Jesus Christ.

      Let’s start improving our relationships. We start by reading and studying God’s word. We must hide His word in our hearts so it will govern our every action. We continue by devoting ourselves to prayer. We must pray that God’s will be done in our lives. We must pray for our relationships with others. We must pray that above all God be glorified through us. Let’s give ourselves to God so that by His will we may give ourselves to others.

Edwin L. Crozier