Putting God Second

Written by Christopher Mentzer

It’s been several months since I heard from my “friend”, Ryan Hoover. Last I had heard from him was November and they were gearing up for the holiday season. He mentioned wanting to write sermons and invitations but then he didn’t write anything more, not even a Christmas card. Finally I e-mailed him again and here is his response:

RYAN: Hey Chris! Happy New Year to you and yours. Sorry I haven’t written in such a long time but we’ve had a family crisis during December. You see, Regina’s father, Jacob, suffered a heart attack while giving his sermon and was rushed to the hospital. Regina was afraid this was the end when her mother called us. I packed up the family and we temporarily moved in with her mother, Kathy. Jacob felt that this was the end too and asked for all of us to gather around. He made his wife swear that she would continue to be faithful to his congregation and not do something foolish like Regina did. Chris, it was almost as if he shoved a knife in her stomach. Her mother vowed to stay faithful and it tore Regina apart. I almost yelled at him but decided not to become involved and in his condition, I didn’t want to add to the pain. He did look my way and had that “This is all your fault” look in his eye.

By the 26^th, he made a strong recovery and they released him from the hospital a few days later. The doctor strongly recommended he retire from his duties in the church but he refused and then later settled on semi-retirement and allowed one of his co-pastors to preach more often and allow the church council to become more involved.

We made our way back to Mentor by Jan. 2^nd making sure Regina’s parents would be fine before we left. Regina is still bitter about the statement her father made but she is calming down. Our daughter Rachel is sensing something wrong in Mommy too.

Although Ryan didn’t mention needing help, I knew he wanted it. Here is my reply:

Chris: Ryan, that’s quite an incident! You seem to have quite a plateful now. First off, I want you to help your wife understand that you both made the right decision. I’m sure she knows that, but it would help both of you to review the first principles of becoming a Christian. The fact that her mother made a vow to her husband to stay with the church is like putting God second. Jesus said, “If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26) This is not necessarily literal but you must put God first before family. And re-read Luke 16: 19-31, the story of The Rich Man and Lazarus. Make you both understand this passage. You might also want to talk to Regina’s mother and get her own views of things out of earshot of Jacob. Perhaps she’s not as unmovable as he would have people think.

Don’t give up on your desire to preach either. Oftentimes, a crisis in the family can make you decide to fall away or simply look back (Luke 9: 62)

Later that day, I got this response from Ryan.

Ryan: Well, Chris, we actually did involve Kathy in a bible study. First it was just Regina and myself and then her mother came over and wanted to see what the commotion was between Jacob and me. Her eyes were really opened when I showed her actual passages that she’s never heard her husband preach on nor had she focused on when reading the scriptures. It’s a small start, but I know there is interest. I will review will Regina as you suggested and well as look at other passages as well. I haven’t given up the desire to preach. In fact, I gave an invitation at the congregation I used to attend before moving to Mentor. The members were very surprised at how far I have studied and increased in my faith! It’s definitely exhorted my as well as increased Regina’s faith. I think everything will work out in the long run.

Putting God second in our lives is very easy to do. Oftentimes, people do it without realizing it. Look at your own life and find out what comes first.