Taking the easy way out is often not the best way.  In fact, I think it is safe to say that the easiest way out is often not the Christian way.

Consider with me that Christ has called us out of the world to live differently from the world.  Our sinful flesh says to lie, cheat, steal, kill, manipulate, control, worry, doubt, and fight to always avoid painful things and to gain pleasant things.  Following the nagging voices of the world, the flesh, and the devil will always be much easier than doing that which is best and right and Christ-exalting.

This is perhaps most commonly played out in our family relationships.  Husbands are called to lovingly lead their families as servants and examples with gentleness, understanding, and faithful consistency, but the sinful ways of either commanding and “lording over” their wives and children or disengaging with a kind of “just-forget-it” apathy are the easier ways out.  Wives are called to respectfully help and submit to their husbands, but the sinful ways of either stubbornly putting up a fight on everything and distrusting and discouraging your husband or not being open and honest and helpful with him are the much easier ways out.  And as parents, we are called by God to shepherd the hearts of our children, not just their behavior, but the sinful ways of either overbearingly controlling their behavior so as to just make them look good in public or wimpishly giving in to the every whine and manipulating tactic of our children are the easier ways out.

As Christians who have been called to “fight the good fight”, to “run the race with all endurance”, and to “never grow weary in doing good”, we must not give in to the easy way out.  If (since) our family and our Savior-King is worth it, we must strive to do the difficult work of life and relationships.  Unlike those outside of Christ, we have the hope, the help, and the joy that we need to keep on keeping on.  We know that if we do not give up, we will reap a reward that far outweighs any struggle or heartache that it takes to do the hard work in our relationships.