Question about biblical priorities.

[DeRick]

First off i know that God/Jesus comes first. But if family comes second. does that mean only if you are a spouse and/or parent? it does not apply if you are single? because i would think if your family (like parents siblings nieces nephews, etc.) come second only to God and not your church/friends outside the family then how can anyone develop a romantic relationship if their entire lives revolve around thier familes/relatives?
that has been a big part of why my seemed to have stagnated.
please explain this priority.

[Diggindeeper]

DeRick, I think you have the understanding a little off.

I offer that it should be like this:

Jesus first

Others second

Yourself last of all.

Notice that the first letters of each word are
J
O
Y

Joy! That really is the only way to have true joy....

[andrew_no_one]

Mark 9:35
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

[-SEEKING-]

that has been a big part of why my seemed to have stagnated.

Looks like you missed something here.

As far as marriage. It's the first ministry God ever established.

[andrew_no_one]

It's the first ministry God ever established.

Hey DeRick (or anyone else for that matter) I agree with what Seeking said here about marriage being God's established ministry between spouses. I just wanted to make sure you (or anyone else) know that Godly advice is available on this Forum through a number of avenues. You may find benefit from a glance at the Families in Christ forum here: http://bibleforums.org/forumdisplay....lies-in-Christ or if you have any issues you’d like to talk about you could start a counseling thread here: http://bibleforums.org/forumdisplay....eling-Requests
If you prefer that it says more private than the anonymity that the internet already offers, anything you open in the Chat to the Moderators thread is only visible by yourself and those who’ve been chosen as moderators of these forums: http://bibleforums.org/forumdisplay....the-moderators
Some of our mods are Pastors, Deacons, Elders, etcetera in their respective churches and can all be counted on to do their very best in assisting you.

[Withoutfcf]

I think you're over thinking this just a little..
A relationship(Romantic or not) does not require top priority.
Marriage is the first "Ministry".
If you and your boyfriend/Girlfriend both seek God then, Your relationship will be focused on God and not each other. By Growing with God together you're growing in your relationship.

What makes a romantic relationship come before God if your romantic relationship is for God? Pure,innocent. and worshipful?

Its quite simple.

[poorinspirit]

1 Corinthians 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. 32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

If you are married, husbands are to please their wives.

Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

When the Bridegroom comes: then that is the time to "hate" your wife in that we are to love Jesus Christ more than our loved ones and the cares of this life to leave this earth when it is time to attend the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Luke 14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

It was from this parable that Jesus expounded on in explaining the cost of being His disciples mean to be ready to leave.

Luke 14: 25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.....33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

That is the only time that we dare not use the love for your wife as a distraction from heeding the call of the Bridegroom to come.