THE THINGS THAT TRULY MATTER
THE THINGS THAT TRULY MATTER
The things that truly matter are not material things. I once heard someone say that when we land in heaven we are not likely to be having regrets about not buying the latest model of a car or the parcel of choice land that we never acquired. There will be way too much going on there that if at all there will be any regrets they might be of not having impacted more people for the kingdom of God.
One time when Jesus was sharing a parable with his disciples, this is what He said to them. “These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Luke 10:2 NLT This is what is most important to God – the harvest, the lost sheep. God is LOVE, He loves us passionately and He does not want any of us to perish. This is why Jesus came to equip us. He instructed us to “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19 NLT
Naturally in order to be an effective disciple, there must be some financial and material considerations. But they are really just a means to an end. The Gospel needs money to go round, and that is the truth. The Mission Schools did and are doing a great job of raising balanced (godly) children. It costs an enormous amount of money to do this. However what is on Gods priority list is raising these children right. Wealth, money and riches do not guarantee godly offspring and neither do they guarantee an eternity with Jesus in heaven. The story of the rich man and Lazarus is very clear on that. What guarantees godly offspring is a solid foundation in Christ. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6KJV We should train up our children in spite of our wealth and also use our wealth to go into the fields and bring in the harvest. The labourers are few. Interestingly, the word labour appears to be used in reference to the things that count with God. “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Hebrews 6:10 KJV Another time we are told to labour is to enter into God’s rest. “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” Hebrew 4:11 KJV Yet in the book of Proverbs, we are told this:“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.” Proverbs 23:4 KJV Our labour should never be for material things.
Love is the bottom line. Love is what truly counts. Yet the bible calls it labour. Our God is love and it matters to Him that we also show love to one another. “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins” 1 Peter4:8 NLT God knows that to love is not the easiest of things to do. After all, it was because of love that He gave up His only Son. Love is about sacrifice. God sacrificed Jesus for us.
In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, there is a long list of things that are love and things that are not love. And it says that without love we are nothing. I dare ask, how are we showing love to people around us – to our family members, our spouses, our parents, our children, our siblings, our employees, our employers, our colleagues, our friends, our domestic staff and fellow worshippers in church? Are we patient with and kind to them? Or are we busy envying that co-worker that just got promoted? Are we always reminding our partners about what they did wrong last decade? Are we rude to our domestic workers? Then we are not minding the things that truly matter to God. The cars, cash and clothes are not evil in themselves they are a means to an end but they should not consume us to the exclusion of all else. When we are our brothers and sisters keepers that is LOVE.
AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE AND THAT IS WHAT TRULY MATTERS.
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS©