Matthew 8:18-22
When Jesus saw that a curious crowd was growing by the minute, he told his disciples to get him out of there to the other side of the lake. As they left, a religion scholar asked if he could go along. “I’ll go with you, wherever,” he said.
Jesus was curt: “Are you ready to rough it? We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.”
Another follower said, “Master, excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have my father’s funeral to take care of.”
Jesus refused. “First things first. Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue life.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Priorities matter. Whether you are choosing to do your homework or study for a test before you go out with friends… electing to get a job, show up for work, and support yourself and your family before you spend money on non-essentials…or going on a diet before you buy smaller clothes… it matters what you choose to do first! And our Christian Discipleship is no different!
Most of us seem to comprehend that we have to work and earn money before we can spend it – and that doing our school work and studying really do help us pass the tests and make the grades. I think we all have enough “smaller” clothes hanging in the closet by default to know that this is not a reasonable incentive to lose the weight! The trouble is… fewer of us seem to grasp the importance of putting God and our service to Him ahead of our own desires and pleasures. So when we would rather go out with friends than show up for mission work, we give ourselves a pass. When we don’t feel all that great or we’re in a bad mood, we say, “I’m not well… God will understand!” Who among us wouldn’t say, “I have to bury my father before I do anything else.”? Yet the correct answer depends totally on WHO ELSE is doing the asking!
God expects us to get this right. He calls on us to order our priorities wisely… to put “first things first!” So you may have to ask Him if going to a party or sporting event with friends trumps staying home and helping a family member who is sick. You might have to choose between an afternoon on the lake… or attending the funeral of your buddy’s grandpa. It’s possible that the mission trip you think God wants you to go on might not be as important as staying home and helping your own family, church family, or community!
The key to setting your priorities straight is to take yourself out of the equation. Ask God, “What do YOU want me to do? How do I serve YOU best?” Notice that nowhere in those questions did I mention what WE want or what is best for US! I’ll admit… asking God for this level of honesty – and committing to do whatever He proposes – is sometimes daunting! We might not like God’s answers! But if we are really “all in,” we’ll agree to them anyway.
God’s business is the business of life… a life in Christ – being His hands and feet to others. Which business are you in these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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