The People God Has Entrusted to Me
Relationships are not primarily about fulfillment; they are assignments of faithfulness.
“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”
— 1 Corinthians 4:2
#Virtualamen God will not ask me how others treated me—He will ask how I stewarded those He placed in my life.
I. GOD — THE SUPREME RELATIONAL PRIORITY
(All other relationships flow from this one)
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
— Mark 12:30
(33) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
— Matthew 6:33
(8) Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, (9) obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
–1 Peter 1:8-9
Three Scriptural Expressions of Supreme Love for God
- Love God completely
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV) - Obey God faithfully
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
— John 14:15 (ESV) - Surrender your life to God
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
— Romans 12:1 (ESV)
If my relationship with God is disordered, all others will be distorted.
II. PARENTS — HONORING GOD’S FIRST EARTHLY AUTHORITY
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long…”
— Exodus 20:12
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”
— Ephesians 6:1
Three Scriptural Expressions of Supreme Love for Earthly Parents (ESV)
- Honor your parents
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”
— Exodus 20:12 - Obey your parents (especially in youth)
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”
— Ephesians 6:1 - Care for and repay your parents
“But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.”
— 1 Timothy 5:4
Honor is not agreement; it is obedience to God.
III. SPOUSE — COVENANT INTIMACY
(Covenant before chemistry)
(Faithfulness before feelings)
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
— Genesis 2:24
Three Scriptural Expressions of Supreme Love for One’s Spouse (ESV)
- Love sacrificially
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
— Ephesians 5:25 - Love with tenderness, not harshness
“Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.”
— Colossians 3:19 - Love with faithful commitment and honor
“However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
— Ephesians 5:33
Marriage is not ownership—it is stewardship of a covenant.
IV. FAMILY — PROTECTING, MENTORING, AND RELEASING
(Stewardship without control)
Family members are not possessions to manage but lives entrusted by God.
(3) Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. (4) Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. (5) Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
— Psalm 127:3
(4) Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
— Ephesians 6:4
(6) Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
— Proverbs 22:6
Three Scriptural Expressions of Supreme Love for Our Family (ESV)
- Provide and take responsibility for your household
“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
— 1 Timothy 5:8 - Lead and nurture your family in the ways of the Lord
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
— Ephesians 6:4 - Serve your family with consistent goodness and care
“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
— Galatians 6:10
Faithful family stewardship produces mature obedience, not lifelong reliance.
V. CHURCH FAMILY — THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH
(Unity over preference)
“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
— Galatians 6:10
(13) Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. (14) I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. (15) For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. (16) So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. (17) For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (18) Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (19) So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (20) Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. (21) It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.
–Romans 14:13-21 ESV
(12) For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. (13) For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free–and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (14) For the body does not consist of one member but of many. (15) If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. (16) And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? (18) But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. (19) If all were a single member, where would the body be? (20) As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. (21) The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” (22) On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, (23) and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, (24) which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, (25) that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. (26) If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
— 1 Corinthians 12:26
Three Scriptural Expressions of Supreme Love for Our Church Family (ESV)
- Love one another sincerely and visibly
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
— John 13:35 - Bear one another’s burdens
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2 - Encourage and build one another up
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:11
The church is not a service provider—it is a spiritual family.
VI. ENEMIES — REDEMPTIVE RESTRAINT
(Grace without compromise)
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
— Matthew 5:44
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
— Romans 12:18
(19) Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (20) To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” (21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
— Romans 12:19
Three Scriptural Expressions of Supreme Love for Enemies (ESV)
- Love and pray for them
“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
— Matthew 5:44 - Respond with goodness, not retaliation
“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
— Romans 12:20 - Overcome evil with good
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
— Romans 12:21
Loving enemies does not mean trusting them—it means trusting God.
VII. THE WORLD — REPRESENTING CHRIST FAITHFULLY
(Engagement without conformity)
(13) “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. (14) “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. (16) In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
— Matthew 5:14–16
(9) Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. (10) Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (11) Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (12) Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (13) Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. (14) Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. (15) Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (16) Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. (17) Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. (18) If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. –Romans 12:9-18
Three Scriptural Expressions of Supreme Love for Unbelievers (ESV)
- Live visibly as Christ’s witnesses
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
— Matthew 5:16 - Share the gospel faithfully
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
— Matthew 28:19 - Respond with gentleness and respect
“Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
— 1 Peter 3:15
We are sent into the world, not shaped by it.
RELATIONAL PRIORITY SUMMARY
- God — Supreme devotion
- Parents — Honor and respect
- Spouse — Covenant faithfulness
- Family — Formation and release
- Church — Unity and care
- Enemies — Redemptive restraint
- World — Missional witness
CLOSING
“So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
— Romans 14:12