Day 18

All In the Family

8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.[a] 9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

Genesis 13:8-9

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:3-4

Families are a unique combination of dynamics, whether they are biological, adopted, or blended. In Genesis, Abram and Lot must decide on the land they share because of strife that is beginning to happen within their family. Abram's solution prioritizes unity and peace for the family over his gain, displaying his wisdom and humility.

In the same way, each person in your family is an individual who is intertwined with one another and whose actions affect each other. Philippians 2:3-4 reminds us not to look only to our interest but also to the interest of others. In his book Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in the Everyday Family Rhythms, Justin Whitmel Earley writes, "Think about them as ways to align our heads and our hearts so we don't just know the right thing to do, we also love doing the right thing." To be a family that loves doing the right thing for one another, we must seek God and his wisdom and look not only to our interests but also to the interests of others. 

To love our families as God would desire, we need help from God and can glean wisdom imparted and inspired through His Word. Unity of the home can best be established through a selflessness that prioritizes honoring and respecting one another. We must look out for the interests of other family members, considering and recognizing needs. A unified family is one that truly reflects the love and humility of Christ and is one that fulfills the Scriptural mandate for the family as outlined in God’s Word.  

Application - Let's explore these principles using Wikki Stix. Each Wikki Stix represents a family member. The stix are made of interwoven hand-knitting yarn, symbolizing the unity we should strive for in our family. Discuss how each person is an individual with their interest, whose lives are intertwined, and things you can do to help your family be more unified. You may want to write words of encouragement, draw a picture for someone in your family, or cook a meal together.

Written By: Miranda Boswell