Proper Relationship Priorities

Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 19:17, Then Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me like this, and sent my enemy away, so that he has escaped?” And Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’ ”

Talk about family drama! Michal was faced with having to make the decision between being faithful to her father or her husband. I will say this right up front…Michal made the right choice. First and foremost, King Saul was wrong in his persecution of David. Secondly, based on the priority that God outlines for relationships, Michal made the godly choice; the choice that would be most pleasing to the LORD. In Genesis 2:24, after the LORD created Eve for Adam, He said, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Jesus repeated this in Matthew 19:5, and the Apostle Paul also repeated it in Ephesians 5:31. It is very clear by God’s command that a man or woman, once married, must make their spouse the #1 person, only after the LORD Himself. I do want to stress this however, even though our spouse comes first, before our parents, we are not excused from honoring our father and mother, as commanded by the Word of God (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:2). Although we are called to cling to one another as husband and wife, we are still to honor our parents by taking care of them, valuing their godly advice, but certainly respectfully standing up against those demands that are sinful, as Jonathan did with Saul, as previously discussed. In this case, Michal was 100% correct in not honoring her father’s demand, as it was a violation of God’s Word. The bottom line is the we can never go wrong if we set the proper relationship priorities. God will always honor our priorities when they are set based on His Word. Let us always honor our fathers and mothers, but always make sure to make our husbands and wives the priority. While we are at it, never ever put God in the back seat. He always belongs on the throne of our lives, as the Head of our homes, and not just as Savior, but also LORD.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).