It's about PRIORITIES
icture it in your mind with me. Jesus is walking down the road and he meets a would-be disciple making a fishing net, or a table, or whatever that person does for a living. Jesus says, “Stop what you are doing. Come and follow me.” Do you see it in your mind? Many are familiar with this scene from the Bible that probably happened more than the couple of times we have it recorded. And obviously many folks did what was asked of them; they put down whatever they were doing and started a long journey, both physically and spiritually, with Jesus. Now, what if it had been different? What if the would-be disciple’s end of the conversation had sounded more like this:
“Oh, wow, hi. You startled me there. Can I help you? OHHH….wait a second! You’re that guy….the one everyone has been talking about. Now, don’t tell me….it’s Jeremiah…John…Jacob . . .JESUS…yeah, that’s right! WOW! I’ve heard a lot about you. You’ve got lots of folks talking. I hear them chatting quite a bit when they are here in my shop. What’s that? Come and follow you?
REALLY? ME?! You apparently don’t know who you are dealing with here. I’m not exactly what you would call “pure.” Doesn’t matter? Hmmm. Well, that might be alright. I’d love to be part of something big, something different. I d love to help you make a difference! Alright, I’ll do it. How’s next Tuesday? Oh, you meant right now? Well, I don’t know. I’m pretty busy. I’ve got this work to finish.
Lot’s of orders to fill….this is my busy time of year. And my kids . . .Oi Vey! Are their schedules crazy! See, that’s what I meant about me being pure. I don’t get to temple a lot. We are so busy. Sports, work, trying to maintain family time, and then I need some time in there for myself. Even if for just a few minutes. What? Well, yes, I do want to see things change and I’d love to help those in need. But, sometimes I feel like I am one of the ones who are in need! It’s just too busy! I’ll tell you what. I’ll do what I can, when I can, from here, and when you come through again, stop in and maybe things will be different. Would that be alright, Jesus? Jesus? Where are you going?
The above, my friends, is sad but true. And it is what happens a lot in the church today. We say we want our church to be this wonderful place where people come and have lives changed, where we connect with one another. We say that we want all of these programs for our children, for our young adults, for our adults even, yet when the time comes to be involved, many folks will look at the schedules and their lives and decide that there is more time for everything else, leaving just a small sliver for church involvement. This is not meant to be an indictment, but rather something for us to think about. We cannot have our cake and eat it, too. Do we all want our church to be a great place of ministry, mission, teaching, and fellowship? Yes. I am sure this is the case. But all too often we put church on the farthest back burner and then fuss when it seems that nothing is happening. There is an old saying, and it is cliché, but it is true: “CH_RCH: It’s not church without U.” It does take us all, every one of us, to make this church the place we want it to be.
Do I expect us all to give up everything and focus all on the church? No, certainly not. Even I will not be here every second. But, it takes making church a priority. I have heard parents wonder why their kids lose interest in the church when they reach a certain age. It’s because it was not made a priority. I have heard people wonder how some folks in the church do not know even basic Bible stories. It’s because it has not been a priority.
The bottom line is this: we can put everything else in front of church and then wonder why things are the way they are when nothing is happening. I don’t suggest this because this way is nothing more than being a part of the problem instead of the solution. The other option is to prioritize. If church growth, ministry, and mission are as important to folks as many claim to me that it is, then being part of the church is the only way that will ever work. Remember, there truly is no Church without you! It takes us all putting forth our best effort, energy, and time.
So, here are the options: we can say we want this or that program and ministry in the church, let everything else dictate how much time the church gets, and then scratch our heads and wonder why this or that did not take off. Or, we can place church as high on our priority list as a lot of people claim it is, put forth a little effort, and see the wonderful results. I pray we choose option two. It will yield infinitely better results for us; that I can promise you. So, can we all put down what we are doing? Jesus is waiting for us.
Trying my best to follow the call,
Jason
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