One of my greatest mentors taught me that life should be measured in three categories. First God, Second husband and family, third job, goals, dreams and ministry. When we fail to properly live life in this order we will eventually spiral downward into entanglements that crush our credibility, jobs, families and eventually our life.
I sit on this rainy day next to the most incredible man. My husband Dan. We together experienced life's entanglements. A crushed marriage, selfish personal pursuits which spiraled into emptiness and a family failing because we chose not to live our life on Gods original vision. Only with making the choice to put God first, can one maintain direction and keep motives pure. If God is absent in the equation you will, like us experience crucial errors in all areas of life.
I can remember like it was today the feeling of failure that engulfed my whole life. The goals and dreams that we set out to accomplish together left us empty, tired and angry with life and each other.
Now that I sit back and reflect on the past I can see the problem clearly. It was all about our "OWN" personal desires, then family and NO GOD... except on Easter and Christmas.
I remember my husbands mom, Chris inviting us to church every weekend we visited her up north. I thought she was such a pain with her constant faith and encouragement.
Little did I know...
Today's reading in 1 samual 4-6 which you can read if you click on the date at the top of this page was about a leader named ELI. Eli had success in his personal life as a priest but NOT as a parent.
Eli's failure to lead His family eventually led to his downfall as a leader. Eli was an amazing leader in Israel but he FAILED to discipline and teach his two sons and ended up rearing spiritual rebels. Even though Eli was a priest (a Godly leader) he got caught up in his personal work and missed the opportunity to lead his own family.
Eli was so busy teaching, leading and inspiring those around him that he ignored his own kids.
Eli assumed his kids would just "get it" just because they lived in the house of the Lord. Eli's children became full of rebellion and tempted by sin. All along Eli was preoccupied with his own work.
How often do we get so tied up in our personal life that we forget that we are leading those around us. When we become entangled with self we forget about the important people God placed in our life.
Why would Eli have such a hard time balancing since he did the work of the Lord? Why did Eli have success as a Godly leader but not as a parent? Do you ever feel like you have success in your personal life but not with your children or within your marriage?
I can identify with Eli very much because my job is teaching, leading and inspiring others to experience God in their lives. I can testify and stress that doing Gods work does not make it an automatic "good place" or a "ticket for a good life" for your children.
Without my personal time with God, I miss what I need to lead my children for that day.
God brings balance to all the areas. We can have all the success in our personal lives and expereince the success of others but if we do not lead our own household, we lack the qualifications to lead beyond the home.
REMEMBER IT'S GOD FIRST then FAMILY then PERSONAL WORK, DREAMS and GOALS.
How does the above order play out in your life? Do you place more emphasis in one certain area? Have you omitted one of these important areas? Do you feel entangled with failure and loss of balance?
Good leaders don't settle for less than excellence. They do not just set goals. they set standards that raise the bar for everyone. Our standards will begin with our spiritual life and relationship with God.
Can we honestly admit we've all been there? A place of misplaced priorities...But, we can also agree together that we don't have to stay there.
Take a good look at how you order your life and ask God to help you prioritise, so that you may experience success in all areas of life.
Blessings,
Heather
