Are you serious about relationships, life?

Published 10:45 am Friday, August 14, 2020

By Pastor Brandon Young

What does it mean to be serious? The definition of serious means to require much thought or work, relating to a matter of importance, not joking or trifling, and deeply interested and devoted. I also think of the word serious when thinking about relationships. What makes a relationship serious?

Shula Melamed, a relationship coach, says “A serious relationship is one in which two people are dedicated to growing together, and it can happen quickly, or it can grow over the span of a few years — the critical component is that both people are invested in it and in a similar way.” That means, yes, serious relationships involve commitment to be together and care about each other indefinitely. Are we serious about our relationship with Jesus Christ? Do we have a deep commitment to Him? I have recently evaluated my relationship with the Lord, and I can tell you he has been much more devoted to me than I have to Him.

 1 John 5:1-4 states, “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” Verse 1 states we must believe. This belief is a complete trust in Christ. Serious relationships demand trust. Verse 2 states we must love. Real love is sacrificial and how we love others is how we love God! You cannot be in a serious relationship without love. Verse 3 states that we must obey God’s commands. If we are serious about our walk with God, we must obey His commands. In John 5:21 “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. An idol is anything that we put before God. If we have idols in our lives, once again we cannot be serious about our relationship with God.

How profound and deep is our relationship with Christ using these metrics? During the current pandemic, many churches have ceased to meet in person. Some have had online services, drive-in services, or both, but it is different from what we all are used to doing as a believer. Many Christians have struggled with this absence from the church building for many reasons, but one thing that stands out to me is that many Christians have built their relationship with Jesus on physical church attendance. So, their relationships with Jesus seem to be going to a building on Sundays and Wednesdays, and since that routine has been removed, many feel a void. Should our walk with Christ be stronger and more committed than going to a church service once, twice, or three times a week? Absolutely! I certainly believe we need a deeper and more serious relationship with Jesus that is more than attending a church service. Please don’t get me wrong, church attendance is a major component to the faith of the believer, but we cannot base our complete walk with Christ on church attendance. It takes more taking your spouse out on the weekend to have a strong and committed marriage. It takes work every day of the week!

In any serious relationship, you will see the following elements: Your time together is a sure thing, you drop the formalities, caring about each other is an open priority, you communicate often, you are transparent with each other, you build toward something, you work together toward a common goal without playing the blame game. These same characteristics can be applied to our relationship with Jesus. We can count on Jesus to make us His priority, but do we reciprocate? I am afraid I have taken my relationship with Jesus too lightly, and it is my desire grow deeper and stronger in my walk with Him.  I want to close with a quote from D.L. Moody. He said, “I was once told something that changed my life. The world has yet to see what God can do with one person’s life wholly and completely committed to Him.” What would God do with your life if you completely and totally committed your life to God and got serious? Don’t you want to find out? Give God all of you! Why don’t we find out together?

Get serious with God and he will get serious with you!