Establishing Priorities
Luke 14:25-35
We must establish priorities. Too often we allow things to stand in the way of that which we consider important. And so hobbies interest us more than our children. A job takes precedence over a marriage. And television displaces family conversations over dinner. We have the best of intentions but the priorities we know to be vital to a good and happy life never get carried out in our day to day living.
Someone has calculated how a typical lifespan of 70 years is spent. Look at these surprising numbers:
Sleep ......23 years ......32.0%
Work........16 years.......22.8 %
TV..............8 years.......11.4%
Eating........6 years.........8.6%^
Travel.........6 years........8.6%
Leisure........4.5 years... 6.5%
Illness..........4 years.....5.7 %
Dressing......2 years......2.8%
Religion......0.5 years....0.7 %^
Total.............70 years.....100%
When put in these terms we see how little a priority spiritual matters occupy in our lives. But Jesus is a demanding leader. A thousand times more demanding than any you will ever know. Jesus said, "So, therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." Possessions cannot stand between you and the Lord. Jesus went on to say, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own mother and father, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, he cannot be my disciple." Even something as noble as the love of family, as good and right as that is, cannot stand in the way of commitment to the Kingdom of God. Jesus said, "If any man would come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Laziness, fear, selfishness, family nothing can stand between us and the call to discipleship. Jesus is not some wishy-washy little fellow coming up to us, hat in hand, hoping to win our favor, saying softly: "Please sir, may have a word with you." He comes to us as the Lord of History and makes demands: "Take up your cross and follow me." He comes to us as one to be obeyed.
Questions to Ponder
What are your priorities in life?
Is anything standing between you and the call to discipleship?
Are you obeying Him?
In His Service,
Terry Phillips
