Have you ever thought you are getting too busy? I have on many occasions. And I am probably not alone. It seems we are becoming busier, trying to fit more activities into our day. I can understand this because I was once stuck in this mode myself, hoping if I just accomplished that next seemingly impossible task it would be noticed and I would receive a promotion, or at least the praise of my superiors. That is not a bad thing, however, back then it always turned out that unimportant items began to take priority over what was actually important.
We are all given the same amount of time as everyone else. Twenty four hours every day, seven days every week, and around fifty two weeks every year. No more, no less. This time was given to us by God to accomplish things that will make a difference for all eternity. If we all have the same time given to us, why do some have time to reach out in ministry while others do not? It all comes down to priorities.
I am not saying going to movies, watching sports, or other enjoyable activities are bad things. I enjoy them as well. And working hard to provide for the family is honorable and necessary. However, it is the emphasis we place on these activities in comparison to God’s calling for us that matters. Are we willing to give up something we enjoy if we know of someone in need? Are we willing to sacrifice other things and serve in some capacity for the church when there is a genuine need? Or do we do nothing because we just do not desire to do it? Jesus spoke to His disciples regarding this.
“Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”. Matthew 9.37-38.
I am convinced the reason laborers are few today is because many do not know how to meet the need or choose not to because they are not comfortable reaching out to those in need. God has placed two basic callings on His people. First, the great commission which calls us to go out and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
However, there is a second calling He has placed on us. And we find this in the parable of the sheep and the goats found in Matthew 25.
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:31-46.
We are called to minister to the needs of Christians, as well as helping non-Christians become Christians, for by doing so we are ministering to Christ Himself. And this should be our focus. God knows what we need and will provide those needs to us.
“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:31-34.
God will meet every need we have if He is our focus, seeking Him first along with His righteousness. And many times He uses Christians, His people, to meet those needs in our lives.
Our sabbath rest is coming, and it will arrive when either we die, or Christ returns to take us home. But until then, we are called to what God has laid out in the scriptures. That means we make the focus on our lives reaching the lost, ministering to the poor and helpless, and making disciples of all we come into contact with. Again, this does not mean we cannot enjoy a movie, play a game or enjoy some down time with friends and family. God understands these needs we have as well, because He made us this way. However, we must never make these things our reason for living. For when we do, these things become more important than God, which makes it idolatry. And we know what God thinks about idolatry.
“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” 1 Corinthians 10:14.
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