Important
There are many things that appear very urgent in my world. There are times when I’ve got an issue with my HVAC, water heater, plumbing or something else around the house. At other times, I need brakes on one of my vehicles or a sound develops in the vehicle that I haven’t heard before. It is important that I get this addressed right away. There’s a huge difference in priority if a tree limb falls on my house and causes a roof leak – that is urgent. The water heater going out is important, but less urgent. If I have a flat tire, I’m stuck until it’s changed and/or repaired. That is urgent and the squeaking brakes are important to.
Jesus takes on the religious leaders of His day. He calls them out for focusing on the less important things. They loved being honored for their position of authority and power over people. They manipulated the law to make things easier upon them and harder on the people they were supposed to be serving. Check this out…
23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. (Matthew 23:23 NLT)
The Lord’s mercies are new every morning. He loves His people, and we are blessed beyond words by His Presence in our everyday lives. We don’t want to become so heaven-bound that we are no earthly good to others we interact with each day.
I think Christ followers can be so focused on judging right and wrong that our hearts become calloused to the needs of others around us. We can do everything right according to our belief and traditions but miss the opportunities that the Lord puts in our path.
I believe it’s less important to have a title or position and more important to put my faith into actions of justice, mercy, and faith. I don’t want to be a Christian in my words only – I want others to see my actions and choices and know that my faith in God is deep and real.
I think it’s important to go to church and to serve in the church. I think it’s more important and urgent to be the hands and feet of Jesus wherever I am. I need to grow in discernment between important versus urgent needs.
Pressing On!
Dwayne