Reality Check!

This quarter at HMCC of Chicago we are focusing on the theme of “Strengthening Our Core Relationships.”  This means that we are tackling the foundational aspects of our faith:  Strengthening our relationship with God and strengthening our relationships with others. Last week we talked about opposite gender relationships and in what ways we can apply biblical principles to our relationships.  Now I’ve sat through many teachings on relationships.  In fact, one of the main reasons I rededicated my life to Christ my sophomore year in college was because of a pivotal ACCESS series on relationships.  Over the years as I’ve struggled with and overcome many of my particular issues with relationships, I have felt as though these teachings aren’t crucial to my life anymore.  I was in for a reality check!  It occurred to me this past Friday as I listened once again to principles on relationships that it had been quite some time that I had assessed and brought my relationship life under the scrutiny of God’s attention.  I began to ask myself the following questions:  Has my heart been pure in my relationships with guys?  In my current life stage, am I still devoting myself fully to the work of the Lord or am I letting other things distract or occupy my attention?  Am I stumbling anyone by my actions or inaction?  Do I actually consider being single a gift from God or do I see it as an ugly blemish to bear?  Am I letting past issues get in the way of having healthy relationships with others? And most importantly, is there anything or anyone who is diverting my devotion and attention to God Himself?  The questions kept on coming and I realized that it had been a while since I had reflected in this way.  It was the proverbial “kick-in-the-butt” moment and I was compelled to once again acknowledge that I may never get this relationship thing just right and that I am just as prone as anyone to stumble or cause someone else to stumble.  In fact, I am about ready to guarantee that when I am feeling most invincible in this area that I am most likely going to fall.

One thing that I always return to when I assess my relational life through the lens of God’s Word is to come back to my first love in my relationship with God. I used to carry a small card in my wallet with the following quote by Soren Kierkegaard on it:  “Purity is to will one thing.”  This has in some sense been the pearl that I have sought in my relationship with God; that I may be able to will one thing…that is to Love God above all else.