To Busy to Care for Plants

His grace creations!

Offering Directions for the Journey

Welcome to another day at Floral Feelings, Inc., where we consider the relational ‘gardening’ problems you may be encountering with a Christian friend, neighbor or family member.

 

 

Church is where many Christians think they should be and rightfully so.  It’s a great place to develop the relationship they began with God when they became Christians and to mingle with others who share many of the same values. 

One of the New Testament writers instructed his listeners to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,” and then he added, “Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…” (Want to read the entire passage?)

Christians are also clearly told to love their neighbor but loving is nearly impossible without having time for the other person.  So why are Christians sometimes consumed by church activities instead of being good neighbors?

Holes in Our Bucket: Reasons You Aren’t Getting Watered Enough

This is hardly an exhaustive list and is not meant to be critical of Christians.  We’re just recognizing what most people already know; we’re not perfect. 

1. Baby Christians Need More Attention - My wife told me recently that infants sleep 16-18 hours a day.  The rest of the time, someone has to take care of their every need. 

Young Christians are similar and may spend more time at church during their toddler years than later in life.  In fact, the analogy of a newborn baby craving milk is used to describe a Christian’s need for spiritual food.  (Want to read about it?)

2. What’s So Special About You Anyway -  For years I balked at buying special drinks for guests in my home.   After all I reasoned, they were visiting me and what we drank - usually milk and coffee - should be good enough for them.

God used my aunt and my wife to teach me some valuable lessons about hospitality.  I learned that finding out what a friend liked and having some of it for them was a tangible way of saying, “I care about you.”

The point is that Christian you know may still need time and God’s influence in their life to become more of a friend.

3. Someone’s Off Balance - Balancing life’s demands is a difficult task and sometimes we focus too much attention in one area, causing another part to wobble.  Other times, the segment receiving the attention needs it and for a time other areas may suffer.  In the long run, God enables a life of equilibrium for his children.

4. It’s Safe in Here - Christians can get the impression that God actually wants them secluded from the world.  They may see this demonstrated by more ‘mature’ believers and even hear it preached by their pastor.  They know that their former lifestyle wasn’t pleasing to God and separation from the world associated with it can make sense.

5. We’re Afraid to Make Mistakes - I met a woman who told me that when she learned someone was a Christian, her hypocrisy radar went on full alert.  From experience, I can attest that behaving contrary to a non-Christian co-worker’s ’expectation’ of me as a Christian can be very threatening and humbling.  

What’s a Plant to Do?

Christians are supposed to love family and friends, co-workers and neighbors with the love that first came from God to them.  It is supposed to be unconditional in nature and for the benefit of the one being loved.  God regularly uses that type of love to impact lives with his way, his truth, and his life. 

If that’s not been your experience, here are a couple of suggestions.

Let Us Know

We would consider it a privilege to listen and share in any hurt you might feel.  We don’t claim to be experts in relational healing but we have seen God heal the broken hearted and would be glad to pray for you.  If we have any wisdom on the issue you raise, we’ll pass it along too.

Get to Know Him

Take your eyes off the unloving friend or family member for a time and direct them toward the person of Jesus.  He’s the example of what it means to be ‘Christian’ - the rest of us are too often faulty followers. 

Here are a few passages from the Bible that might give you a picture of a love that’s hard to fathom and worthy to consider.  

He cured the untreatable: A woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years and spent all she had seeking relief, was healed instantly by Jesus.  More importantly perhaps was his public commendation of her faith. Mark 5:21-34

He honored the unrespectable:  Jesus’ words and actions elevated a sinful woman who was humble and pointed out the hypocrisy of the proud.  Luke 7:36-50

He felt the untouchable: Jesus didn’t need to touch people to bring healing but many times he applied his care through physical touch as was the case in this story of a man with a serious skin disease.  Matthew 8:1-4

He recognized the unlikely: The simple story of a woman who gave more than she could afford to give moved the heart of Jesus.  Mark 12:41-44

Floral Feelings Finale

We hope that any professing Christians in your life take their responsibility to love you seriously.  Regardless of how they treat you, we hope even more that you’ll investigate the one who really knows how to keep a garden watered; Jesus.

You won’t be able to spray us with the hose if you didn’t find this article interesting but you could click on it and let us know what you’re thinking.