Your Most Important Relationship

What is your most important relationship?

I read a quote last week from a public figure under some fire for being “too forthright” about his religious views:

“If you’re married, and you have a wife, and you really love your wife, is it good enough to only say to your wife ‘I love her’ the day you get married? Or should you tell her every single day when you wake up and every opportunity?

And that’s how I feel about my relationship with Jesus Christ is that it is the most important thing in my life.”

Who said it? Twenty-four year old Broncos starting quarterback Tim Tebow.

Tim Tebow comments
Photo courtesy of Tim Tebow.com

Okay, I know last week I talked about Clayton Kershaw, but I promise I’m not on a sports kick. I just happened to read this line in an email devotional (perfect little bit of “God time” for a woman on the go!), and it’s stuck with me all week.

I love this quote for a couple of reasons.  First, this guy has his priorities straight. Here’s an NFL quarterback who’s close to his family and devoted to volunteer work, he’s got fans and media and teammates and coaches clambering for his attention, but the single most important thing in his life is his relationship with Jesus Christ.  Wow. 

But what really had me thinking this week was how Tebow described his faith so vividly in terms of relationship.  I think it’s easy to get caught up in the “mechanics” of Christianity, and this is especially true around Christmas time.  There’s so much to DO at Christmas, so many boxes to check, that even faith gets a to-do list:

But at its core, Christmas is ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIP with the Creator and Savior of the world. Are you checking all of the items on your to do list because it’s tradition, an obligation, a family expectation? Or are you doing those things and others because it’s one way you tell Jesus you love him and want to serve him? Doing the right thing is good, but this Christmas season, I hope that you can join me in “doing” the celebration of Christmas to tell Jesus you love him.