What Really Matters

“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she helped me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

In the account given we have two attitudes of interest that symbolize the attitudes of interest among men today. Mary sat at Jesus feet and heard his word. Martha was distracted with much serving. She asked the Lord, do you not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone. The Lord’s response was not what she really expected. The Lord told her that she was anxious and disturbed about many things. He then pointed out that what Mary was doing was more beneficial and important than what Martha was doing, “Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her.”

What really matters to us? To many the only things that matter are the things that are temporal and for far too few, the spiritual things matter most. Paul said to the Corinthians “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” 2 Corinthians 4:17- 18. Christians should strive to avoid allowing the cares, riches and pleasures of this life to choke the word and become unfruitful Luke 8:14. What are some things that people allow to distract them from the spiritual things?

Some people allow the love of money to distract them from what really matters. Money is not inherently evil, but the love of is a real problem. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” 1 Timothy 6:10. When one’s life is focused on the love of money, he cannot be a servant of God, for man cannot serve God and mammon Matthew 6:24. The wise man Solomon, who was one of the wealthiest men on earth at that time expressed the proper attitude of a Christian regarding money “Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God” Proverbs 30:8-9.

Some allow personal pleasure to blind their eyes to what is really important. John admonishes Christians to love not the world nor anything in it 1 John 2:15-16. A person’s love of the world excludes his love of the father. What would be you answer to the following question, where is the world’s focus today, on God or the world? What would be your answer? Now let me ask another question, where is your focus? We know where it needs to be (Colossians 3:1-3; Hebrews 12:1-2, but where is it? It would be wonderful if all Christians had the attitude of Moses “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” Hebrews 11:24-25.

Others allow self to divert their attention from what really matters. To some people nothing matters but themselves. Their only interest in life is what they want. Christianity is too demanding “if any man come after me let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me” Matthew 16:24. Timothy described this type person in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Some allow their families to turn their heads from what really matters. Family is important, and the Lord expects us to love our family and teach them Ephesians 5:22-33; Ephesians 6:3-4. God wants us to realize they are a blessing to us Psalms 127, 128. A person must however realize that God never intended them to take His place. Jesus said “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37). To some all that matters is their own family, their wife, their children etc. What about the Lord and others? (Philippians 2:4; Matthew 6:33)

People also allow error (false teaching) to cause them to lose sight of what is important. Error can cause one to have a false view of God and can cause one to have a negative attitude toward truth. The Jews are a prime example of this fact. They had a false view of God, they thought God was the God the Jews only and that the Law of Moses was God’s once and for ever law, as a result they rejected God accepting the Gentiles and persecuted those who preached the gospel. They being ignorant of God’s righteousness went about to establish their own righteousness (Romans 10:1-3). One would do well to consider what error did to the Galatian Christians and the Hebrew Christians, Galatians 1:6-9; Hebrews 3:12). Error today can and will do the same thing. We must keep a focus on what is really matters.

What does really matter? God! Which also involves Christ, Holy Spirit, the church and truth. Solomon summed it up quite appropriately “fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” Ecclesiastes 12:13. God is the supreme and sole ruler in the universe, Christ is the only savior and access to the father and truth is the avenue to spiritual freedom Acts 17; Acts 4:12; John 8:32. Let us never forget what and who is important by avoiding the things that can so easily beset us Hebrews 12:1.

Bill Cantrell