More Important Matters – Today’s Family Devotion

GOD COMMANDS US TO BE FAITHFUL.

Bible Reading of the Day: Read Matthew 23:23, 37.

Verse of the Day: “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2, NIV).

Jesse sat on the couch and pointed the remote control at the television, flipping from channel to channel. His older brother John came into the room.

“Hey, Jesse,” John said, “are you ready for me to take you to Zach’s house?”

“Naw,” Jesse answered. He continued his channel surfing.

“Well, come on,” John said. “We’re going to be late.”

Jesse didn’t take his eyes off the television screen. “I’m not going,” he said.

John just stared at his baby brother in silence for a few moments. Finally, John said, “I thought you told Zach you were going to the fair with him and his parents.”

“I did,” Jesse said, “but I don’t feel like it now.”

“So you’re going to let your friend down, just like that?”

“It’s no big deal,” Jesse said. “Besides, I don’t like the fair. It’s dumb.”

“That’s not the point, Jesse. You told Zach you’d go with him.”

“I’ll call him and tell him I … I’m sick or something.”

“Lying to your friend isn’t the answer.”

“Well, then, what is the answer, Mr. I’m-in-College-Now-and-I-Know-Everything?”

John sat on the couch beside his brother. When he answered his brother’s question, his voice was soft and patient. “Jesse, you told your friend that you would go with him. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but I bet it is to Zach. He’s counting on you to do what you said, and if you let him down, I think you’ll be making a poor choice.”

Jesse rolled his eyes. “Why don’t you leave me alone? This is just between me and Zach.”

John hesitated a moment, then answered, “It is between you and Zach, but it’s also between you and God.” “How?” Jesse said.

It was John’s turn to shrug. “God commands us to be faithful. In fact, once when Jesus was talking to the Pharisees, he called God’s command to be faithful one of the most important parts of the law, along with justice and mercy.” He paused. Jesse was no longer watching the television screen.

Jesse glanced at the clock on the wall. “I guess I still have time to make it to Zach’s house,” he said. He met his brother’s eyes for the first time in their conversation. “Will you still take me?”

“I’ve got my jacket on,” John answered. “I might as well!”

TO DISCUSS: What does it mean to be faithful to your friends? Who are your most faithful friends? How do your friends know they can count on you?

TO PRAY: “Lord, we want to be faithful in our relationships and in our tasks. Make us faithful people, Lord.”