“Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11 NIV
Reflection: what is a family?
Not sure about you, but I don’t know of anyone who chose their parents. None of us had the choice of our heritage and bloodlines, including the traits and looks that come from our parents and ancestors. And as a child, none of us choose the parents and siblings we grow up with. And regardless of whether these are good, or not so good relationships, we call these families. But are they? As we get older, we eventually have the ability to choose and create our own family, through marriage and possibly even have our own children, through birth or adoption. You might even include a dear friend that you basically consider “part of your family”. And, for those who have tried “making family” we all know it is hard work, and never done.
Family is what you make it.
In his last letter to the Corinthians, we see Paul referring to the members of the congregation there as “brothers and sisters”, which of course is a designation of family. And he has used that throughout his writings, calling them family. We might be reminded here of Jesus own words about family. “Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”” Mark 3:31-35 NIV.
Family is doing the will of God.
In fact, the whole Bible is in a way an instruction manual on how to make family. And if we try to pick apart Paul’s teaching in today’s verse, we might pick up some wisdom that can be used for our families. Did you notice his first instruction? Rejoice!! Paul has made this instruction to other churches, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”Philippians 4:4 NIV. This reference of rejoicing is from the inner joy we feel when walking with the Lord, as stated all throughout the Old Testament, such as “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.” Psalms 119:14 NIV. And But there is also physical family application here. Because, isn’t it so true that families that have fun together, can laugh and play together, tend to thrive.
Family is rejoicing together.
Paul goes on saying “Strive for full restoration, encourage one another”. Now, this point about restoration is pretty interesting. Because, if a family member is unwilling to engage in restoration, the family will not function. Did you notice that Paul here said “Strive”? Because, restoration is hard work. Even painful. We looked at this extensively in previous posts, where Paul rebuked the “family member” who lived in a sinful relationship, unrepentantly. And, if you recall, the instruction therefore to the family was to excommunicate him. And if he repented, changed his ways, to then forgive him and restore him back into the family again. The key message here is that we all, in a functioning family, need to be able to receive and act on rebuke and encouragement, which is directly applicable to our physical families.
Family is correction and encouragement.
The final message from Paul is around unity. He says to “be of one mind, live in peace.” It doesn’t mean we can’t have disagreements, of course. But our goal, as a family, should be to have peace. And if we don’t have that mindset, to be of that mind, we will not achieve peace. It is true spiritually, and physically, and is another key thread throughout the Bible. We have to remember what our enemy is working on to do to our families, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 NIV.
Family is unity and peace.
Paul ends with a promise, if we follow these instructions, “the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11 NIV. The Bible is very practical, even instructing us how to build and maintain a healthy family. But we have to remember that family is a choice, it is hard work and never done. At least as long as we are in these body.