To whom much is given, much is required, and that includes our families. Last week I wrote about how our relationships- those that breathe life into us and that bless us, i.e. work, romantic, and plutonic relationships are gifts from God, placed in our hands for a reason. This week I will talk about family. God is asking, “what are you doing with what’s in your hand when it comes to your parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, grandchildren, and cousins?” Why should God bless us with more or take us to new levels when we haven’t mastered nurturing our own flesh and blood?

While families can be complicated with bad memories and moments they are still a gift from God. I think of Jacob’s family in Genesis, where his family had lots of issues from him [Jacob] stealing his brother Esau’s birthright, to him favoring Joseph and Benjamin over his other 10 sons, and to his own 10 sons lying and selling Joseph into slavery. That family had issues. But,,,, they were blessed and anointed. More on this in a second…

I also realize that not everyone has a family to rely on, so if that’s you, you’ve got to find the right person(s) who will do that because there are people out there who want to be like family to you. Pray and trust that God will provide them!

For whatever family that you do have, they are in your life for a reason. One of the most unique things about family is that while you argue and sometimes don’t get along, you have a unique and special bond because you’re related and you understand the crazy family dynamics. This is a gift, having people that aren’t just friends but that understand your family- its joys and its issues.

Cousins can be like siblings providing encouragement and awesome companionship. Siblings get your parents, and because they get your parents they get you when there is conflict with your parents, and they can be a strength to lean on. And aunts, uncles, and grandparents can be a unique support because they know one of your parents all to well, and can talk out and listen to various situations you’re going through. And children and grandchildren are a blessing to parents and grandparents- to love, befriend, and for them to bask in the joy that you [parents and grandparents] have raised child(ren) to be a blessing in the world.

Getting back to Jacob… While there were many dynamics to himself and his children, you can see how God had a purpose for the family unit when you look at Jacob’s family. And God also has a plan for your family.

• We see from the story of Joseph, Jacob’s 11th son, that God can take hurt and brokenness, and turn it into a beautiful story of redemption and reconciliation.
• We see how God worked on Judah’s heart to humble him when he did wrong by Tamar. God will work on family members’ hearts (and even humble them) when they do us wrong, but it requires us to be patient with our family and to keep loving them right on.
• We see that even though Jacob was wrong in playing favorites with his children (and also with the mothers of his children) God humbled his 10 sons in their mistake of selling him, as Joseph became the second most powerful man in Egypt. (As a side note: Jacob loved his wife Rachel more than his other wife Leah, and favored Rachel’s children [Joseph and Benjamin], which caused the first 10 sons to hate Joseph even more.)

Our family’s, however they look are a gift from God, placed in our hands to love, nurture, lift us up, and us lift them up. The same goes for our family in the body of Christ. It takes patience to be in a family but God is looking at how we treat these people we are related to. If there is division, anger, blocking or strife- if much time has passed and you feel God leading you to reconcile with a family member- do it! Life is too short to stay angry forever.

And why not take a moment to call or text one of your family members to see how they are doing this weekend and thank God for them and what they mean to us.

Happy Friday!