It’s so easy in life to focus only on things that don’t really matter in the big scheme of things, and to neglect the main things. We can allow the urgent in our life – the loud and in your face issues to override and drown out that which is truly important.
Jesus addressed this tendency in us to lose focus on what’s really important by encouraging us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His way of doing things. He then promised that as we did this that all those things that everyone else spends so much time and energy chasing after will be added to our lives as well.
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans pursue all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:31-32)
Jesus actually called out and reprimanded the Pharisees – the religious leaders of the day for missing the main thing and focusing too often on secondary matters.
He said, “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God’s Law, things like fairness and compassion and commitment—the absolute basics! —You carelessly take it or leave it. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required. Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that’s wrong from start to finish, nit picking over commas and semicolons?
“You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You burnish the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony. Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something.” (Matthew 23-23:26)
Keeping God and His kingdom as our main thing means we spend our lives centred not on external matters or things of little consequence but instead on our relationship with God and with others.
Today ask yourself is my relationship with Jesus at the centre of who I am; am I spending time with Him; Am I reading His word and seeking after His purposes, or am I doing my own thing and only giving Him the dregs and left overs of my life? Is He the centre? Is He the main thing?
Then take a look at your relationships with others. Are you thinking of others and not just what you want? Are you at peace with those around you or do you have un-forgiveness, worry or offense in your heart?
Jesus said everything is summed up in these two main things. To, “love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them”. (Matthew 22:37-40 The Message)
Choose to make the main thing the main thing everyday as you “make the business of every day to seek to be truly at rest and happy in God” (George Mueller)
Have a listen to this song by Jen Johnson called Gravity to encourage you today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHlRSZkz5vU
Prayer: Lord help me today to keep my relationship with you as the main thing in my life. Please forgive me where I have allowed other things to crowd in, or I have made things that really don’t matter bigger than they should be. I’m focusing on loving you and loving those around me today. In Jesus name Amen.