Recently I read a statement that made me pause. I found it in a quote from another book called “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan. A book I would highly recommend to you for good solid devotional type reading. In it he quotes Tim Kizziar who writes, “Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter”. As I pondered this statement the truth in it seemed to echo Jesus words in a powerful teaching he once gave attacking the attitudes and mixed up priorities of the religious leaders in his day. In a series of verses found in Matthew 23 (vs 13-29) that start with the words “Woe to you teachers of the Law and Pharisees…” Jesus says some of his most harsh words ever recorded. At one point he says in vs.24 , “You blind guides! You strain at a gnat but swallow a Camel.” In other words they had become experts at succeeding at things in life that really did not matter! It sent me on a search of my own heart wondering what things I was succeeding at the really don’t matter and conversely what things I was failing at that really do matter. As I reflected on what I believe the scripture teaches are God’s top priorities I set out my top priorities and measured to see if they are even remotely close! For example in Matthew 23 Jesus makes these little statements that reveal what is of value to him. “The greatest must be your servant; Whoever exalts themselves will be humbled and whoever humbles themselves will be exalted; You neglect the more important matters of justice, mercy and faithfulness.” Am I willing to take the low road, to actually serve others for their benefit and not my own? Am I willing to actually humble myself, put others needs before my own, listen to what others are saying without condemnation or trying to push my pearls of wisdom on them? Am I more worried with the way things look, more concerned over my reputation than what is actually going on inside my heart and doing the right things? Am I more troubled over defending my rights than the rights of others? Do I love to receive mercy from others yet find myself being stingy with mercy when it comes to exercising it towards others? Am I more worried over my own comfort and my level of enjoyment over being faithful and true to my convictions?
Ultimately it needs to be asked am I committed to the things that Christ is committed to. As individuals and as a church are we committed to what really matters? Are we succeeding at things that don’t really matter at the expense of things that really do matter? These are healthy questions to ask ourselves on a fairly regular basis and make the necessary adjustments in the power of the Holy Spirit. We must be determined to stop straining at gnats and swallowing camels.
