For many of our families, this weekend marks the end of summer break. While the warm weather and sunshine will continue through September, our vacations at sandy beaches or sleepy mountains are drawing to a close. I am thankful for this season with my family, and I trust you enjoyed some time away with yours.
Next week as school resumes for our children and students (and teachers); our schedules will fill with extra-curricular activities and traffic will lengthen our morning and afternoon commutes. Amid all the hubbub of these routines--whether we are parents, grandparents, or singles--we must prioritize what matters most--Christ and the church.
Far too many of us--myself included--allow other people to order our priorities. They have expectations for us to run to this practice, or attend that concert, or be at this meeting, or take that excursion. All of these expectations can fill our schedules and leave us feeling overwhelmed. How can we possibly keep all these priorities?
Simple put--we can't. At some point, all of us must say no. We cannot do everything. If we merely go with the flow and stay busy, we may suddenly careen over an unseen, dangerous waterfall. Eventually, football, band, cheer, baseball, school, career, and other things fade away. They are all meant for a season of this life, but they should not consume our lives.
When I was a young father, an older dad told me: "When your son turns 18, he may no longer play sports or be in the band, but he can still have Jesus and the church. Those things are eternal." Sadly, some parents minimize Jesus and the church to prioritize school and extra curriculars. Yet, I think more Christians need to push back on other people's expectations and prioritize eternity.
None of us will choose the right priorities every time. But we should strive to live for Christ and the church even when it costs us a position or an opportunity now. Jesus and his bride should not be neglected. Paul's words to the Corinthians seem apt: "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Cor 4:18).
In Christ,
Pastor Nathan