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In our daily lives, we often find ourselves caught up in relationships, work situations, and personal pursuits that can cause us to lose sight of what truly matters. While these things aren't necessarily bad, they can become distractions from the most important relationship we can have - our relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Problem with Horizontal vs. Vertical Relationships

We naturally hunger for relationships with other people - God made us that way. We have what can be called "horizontal relationships" with our spouses, children, coworkers, and friends. But we also have a "vertical relationship" with God that should take priority over all others.

The apostle Paul understood this principle deeply. In Philippians 3:7-8, he writes: "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord."

Why Do We Struggle with Priorities?

Many of us can relate to being socially awkward or seeking acceptance through worldly means. We might find temporary solutions that make us feel important or loved, but looking back, we realize these things weren't truly valuable. The relationships and pursuits we thought were so important often leave us empty.

The Danger of Fire Insurance Christianity

Some people accept Jesus as Savior but never allow Him to become Lord of their lives. This is like buying "fire insurance" - you're saved from hell, but you're missing out on the abundant life God wants to give you. It's like receiving a beautiful guitar as a gift but leaving it in the closet, never learning to play it.

What Does It Mean to Know Christ as Lord?

Moving Beyond Church Answers

We all know the "church answers" - we should study, fellowship, and pray. These are good things, but there's something deeper God wants from us. He desires intimacy with us through the spiritual world.

When intimacy with God becomes so real that the spiritual world becomes more important than the physical world, we're heading toward letting God be Lord of our lives. This means every decision - even the smallest ones - should be filtered through our relationship with Him.

The Priority of the Vertical Relationship

Your relationship with Jesus should be more important than your relationship with your spouse, children, or anyone else. This doesn't mean you love them less, but that your love for Christ transforms how you love others. When your vertical relationship with God is right, it produces better horizontal relationships with everyone else.

Five Questions to Examine Your Heart

1. What Would Change If You Put God First?

Consider how different your life might be if you filtered every word, thought, and action through your relationship with God before expressing it. Would you love people differently? Would you treat the difficult neighbor with the same love Jesus shows them?

2. Is Your Life Really About Jesus?

Examine your motivations. Is what you're doing ego-driven or Jesus-driven? If your ego is driving your actions, you'll end up in trouble. Make sure Jesus is the reason behind your service to others.

3. Are You Praying God Into Your Agenda?

Are you trying to get God to bless your plans, or are you faithfully responding to His leading? Many times we justify our desires by saying "God opened the door," when really we opened it ourselves and pushed God aside.

4. Is Jesus Worth Potential Suffering?

Following God faithfully will lead to some suffering - this is a biblical promise. Jesus said in John 16:33: "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." The question is: Is Jesus worth whatever suffering might come?

5. Does Everything Flow from Your Love for Jesus?

Is everything in your horizontal life the overflow of a vibrant vertical love relationship with Jesus? If even one area of your life doesn't reflect this love relationship, it will throw everything else off balance.

The Heart of the Gospel

Jesus thought so much of you that He was willing to die for you, knowing you might not accept Him. Isaiah 52 describes how He was beaten beyond recognition - you couldn't tell if it was a man or woman, front or back. He endured this because He wants a personal, intimate relationship with you.

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to filter every decision through your relationship with Christ before acting. Start small - before speaking, buying something, or making plans, pause and ask: "How does this align with my love for Jesus? Will this strengthen or weaken my vertical relationship with God?"

Ask yourself these questions:

  • Am I treating Jesus as just my Savior, or is He truly the Lord of my life?
  • What relationships or situations am I putting before my relationship with Christ?
  • How would my horizontal relationships change if I strengthened my vertical relationship with God?
  • Am I tired of carrying around hurt and pain that Jesus wants to take from me?

Remember, Jesus doesn't want to be added to your existing plans - He wants to be the leader of entirely new plans that bring glory to His kingdom and joy to your heart.