One of the most difficult lessons a Christian must learn is that even our families can become an idol in our lives if we are not careful. Every Christian should love and serve their family, but our families are not to be our highest priority. That phrase just seems wrong but look at our first-century examples.

Jesus told his disciples to stop what they were doing and follow him. Jesus’ family tried to stop him from preaching and he ignored their concerns. Every disciple except John died in service to Christ, with many leaving their families without their help as a result.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 10 sound harsh, irresponsible, and even heartless. Yet, Christ said that whoever loves their family more than me is not worthy. Christ wasn’t teaching that family wasn’t an important priority; he was teaching us not to make our family our highest priority. 

God created the concept of family. He divided the Holy Land according to families. We are commanded to “honor” our parents and care for our children. Biblically, we are commanded to make our families a high priority, but Jesus taught us not to make them our highest priority. 

If we put family ahead of God, we are not teaching our family to know God as he is to be known. When we place family priorities ahead of God’s eternal priorities, we will teach others to think of themselves more highly than they should. If our family is an idol, we will serve our family at a higher level than we serve God.

God’s priorities are wisdom. When family becomes a higher priority than God, we have created an idol in our lives. If we trust idols, we step away from trusting God. Has your family become an idol in your life? For their sakes, repent of that choice and choose to be “worthy” of Christ. The wisest choice we can make for the sake of our families is to cause them to know and love Christ as their highest priority. We want those we love to be worthy of his saving grace.