You would be hard pressed to find an issue that means more to the average person than having quality relationships. More than money, more than popularity, good relationships are a top priority for most people. So, why do so many relationships get into trouble? Why do best friends turn into enemies? Why do marriages fail? Why do neighbors and families feud? The answer simply put is this: Not enough Jesus!

You see, while it is certainly a good thing to desire good relationships over so many other things that the world has to offer, those relationships must still take their proper place under your relationship with Jesus.

Do you remember the story of the wise man building his house on the rock, and do you remember what happened when the foolish man built his house on the sand? The rains came, and while the wise man's house stood firm, the foolish man's house fell with a great crash (Matthew 7:24-27).

For Christians, Jesus is our Rock (with a capital R). So when 2009 threatens to blow you away with busy-ness, just remember who comes first. If the answer for you is your spouse, children, or friends, or worse yet, money which is the root of all evil, 2009 or any other year will most likely be a rocky one (with a little r). The fact is that we are all human, and so we tend to put faith and trust in things we can see. But Christians and everyone else need to be reminded that our love and faith should be directed towards God through Jesus (John 14:6, Romans 6:1-11, 2 Corinthians 5:14-21). If you do this, he will make sure you still have plenty left for those people in your life who mean so much to you.

The Bible is full of stories that remind us of what God can do when we put our trust in him. In 2 Kings 4, there was a poor man and woman who revered God. The husband died and his creditors were going to take her sons as slaves to repay her husband's debt. She told her story to Elisha who was a prophet of God. And since she had nothing in her house “except a little oil,” Elisha told the woman to ask her neighbors for empty jars. Then he told her to pour oil into each of the jars until they were full. After all the jars were full, she asked her son to bring her another jar. But since there were no more jars left, her original supply of oil stopped flowing. Then Elisha told the woman to sell the oil and pay her debts. God knows our needs.

Isn't that an amazing story? The devil wants us to think that if we consistently do God's will, that somehow our relationships will suffer. Parents are tempted to think that if they bring their kids to church too often, their kids will turn away from God. Women and especially teenage girls often think that if they don't “give in” to their boyfriend's desire for the kind of romance that is supposed to take place inside of marriage, that the man or boy will toss them aside. The examples could go on. The point is that when we give all we have (no matter the amount) to God in regards to our faith, love, and talents, God can and will do mighty things. Remember the story of the five loaves and two fish Jesus used to feed the 5,000?

May God bless you in the New Year as you renew your strength by putting your hope in the Lord (Isaiah 40:31).

Reach Barrett Vanlandingham at Fort Gibson Church of Christ, 478-2222 or ftgcoc_barrett@sbcglobal.net.