L. C. FOX-SMITH - 22/06/25: Since I’ve been making an effort to put God first I’ve found myself drawing closer to my family. That really surprised me. I used to read Matthew 10:37: “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” and I struggled with it. It felt jarring, even harsh. How could we be expected to love anyone more than our own children or wife? It didn’t sit right with me. But over time, I’ve come to realise that it’s not about loving God instead of our families, or loving Him more in some measurable way (in human terms, at least). Love can’t really be measured like that. It’s not a ladder, or a scale, or a meter running from low to high.
I’ve been thinking about how counterintuitive it all felt at first. Normally, when I focus too much on one area of my life, another one suffers. If I throw myself into work, I neglect my relationships. If I pour everything into my relationships, my work takes a hit. It’s like there’s always a trade-off. But with God, it doesn’t seem to go that way. When I put Him first, everything else seems to be strengthened. It’s remarkable.
When God leads my life, things get better. My relationships improve, my mood shifts, situations open up, and things just seem to ‘work out.’ So it’s not that I love God instead of my family. I love Him because He’s the Creator—the One who gave us life and everything around us. Most importantly, He gave us each other.
I do wonder if I’ll always manage to keep putting God first. What about when things get hard or when life doesn’t seem to fall into place so easily? That’s why writing these reflections and sharing in this group has become so important to me. I can look back at what I wrote, what I felt, and how God showed up in those moments. I love that we can keep each other accountable, too.
Right now, I’m making some big decisions in my work. But this time, I’ve asked God to take the lead. I’m working for Him now. Just like I’d want to do a good job in any role, I want to honour Him in everything I do. I want my work to bring Him glory.
Now when I think about who I’m really working for, it gives me clarity, peace, and a deeper sense of purpose. That’s the mindset I want to carry forward: to trust, to listen, to be led by love and to walk in step with Him.
How did you react when you first read Matthew 10:37?