Who Do You Love?

Familiarity breeds contempt is an old saying. It means that we take for granted those things, places, or people we know the best. We take for granted that, during our life time, they will be there. Our favorite restaurant, our favorite chair, that hidden fishing spot, or our parents are just some things we may assume will be there when we need them. So, in assuming they will be there, we often do not give them the love and attention they need.

Maybe another example would be when a married couple "grow apart." It seems that some men tend to lose the desire to pursue their spouses after they are married. No more dates, flowers, or cards since they have captured the love of their life! It's all about paying bills and raising kids!

I have noticed something similar in the Church. Often we focus on those outside of the church walls, and rightfully so, since we have a mandate to win those who are lost from Jesus Himself. But I have seen that focus get to the point where we no longer care for those inside the church walls. They have been "captured" so we seem to worry less about them. We do not give them the attention and care they need and deserve. We assume they will continue to come to church and be active and volunteer and so on. While we are reaching out to those who do not know Christ, we cannot neglect the needs of fellowship, discipleship, and love to those who have come to know Christ already. The title to this blog post is really a misnomer. It isn't 'Who Do You Love?' as though you can't do both, it is a call to do both and allow the Lord to use you wherever He needs. Whether it be more for those inside the Church or outside, you will never know unless you love first and let Him decide where to work through you.