Priority Problems
This summer I had the opportunity to be a youth intern at the Congregation in Broken Arrow. I have learned many important lessons. One of the best lessons I learned came from a short conversation with one of the elders in the congregation. We were at church camp, and we had been putting together bunk beds. He had worked up a sweat, I walked up and said “Are you worn out” he responded saying “No, I never get tired.” To any other person, that statement doesn’t mean much. He just stated that he doesn’t get tired, but for me, it hit differently. As followers of Christ, we tend to use the “tired” excuse one too many times. We are “too tired” to go to church. We are “too tired” to stand and praise God. We don’t have the time to study the word of God and to pray in the spirit, but when we do, we are too tired. Do we ever stop and wonder if Jesus was too tired to die on the cross? Does it ever cross our minds that Jesus might have needed a little rest after being beaten? For example with the apostles (Mark 14:37) when Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus was about to be taken by the mob. Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to remain with him and keep watch. Verse 33 states that Jesus was “distressed and troubled.” Here is a man who is about to be crucified for their sins, and the three apostles couldn’t even stay awake while he prayed. The three fell asleep again and again because they were too tired.
As a society, we get so caught up in our everyday lives and relationships that we forget about the most important relationship we have and that is the relationship we have with Jesus Christ. In the eyes of the world, Christians are doing a good job if we manage to make it to service on Sundays and sing along during worship. If we attend on Wednesday night, we are going the extra mile. For some people, sacrificing their Sunday mornings is too much to ask. Jesus told us to make disciples of all nations. To teach and to observe all that he has commanded us (Matthew 28:16–20). How are we supposed to make disciples of Christ when we are not followers of Christ, but just a modern day Pharisee? How can we spread his word if we do not know his word? There are a lot of people in the world today who claim his name but fail to carry out his will. With all of the resources we have today (Bibletalktv, World Bible school) there is no excuse not to have time to learn God’s word. People today don’t have a problem with time they have a problem with their priorities. Fellow followers of Christ, it is time to take charge and be the leaders we are called to be in the Lords church.