It is a dilemma. I read an article some time ago that described America’s most dangerous jobs and guess what, administering religious services was eighth on the list. In the wisdom literature of the Bible there is the statement, “A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” I must admit, it caused me to pause and consider what I am doing as a pastor.
Then, however, I realized that we are all in danger. Every person has death pursuing them whether it is early in life or later, we get ensnared by this formidable and unbeatable foe. All we have are the moments in between—the ones death does not have. While we are alive, we are not dead.
What can be the meaning and purpose of this brief period before we succumb to the ages? Jesus talked about the fleeting nature of life, likened us to the grass of the field here today and gone tomorrow, and gave additional counsel, “So do not worry… But seek first (God’s) kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Interesting advice, isn’t it?
So many of us worry; we worry about how we will live with whatever circumstances assail us, whether in the present or the future, and fail to really live. Worry becomes a type of death—a death to the moment. By worrying we add nothing to our lives and subtract such valuable time—limited time.
By the way, there is no suggestion in the Bible that we should just eat, drink and be merry all the time and care little about the duty to provide for family and self.
It seems that, for some, all they do is work at living and trust little in God’s provision. Moreover, they spent far too few momentswith God or considering him.
When Jesus visited a house of friends, two women responded very differently to his company. One ran around making preparations for meals and ensuring that she was an excellent hostess. The other simply stayed very close to him and wanted to spend all her time in his presence. Both were involved in important interests, but the latter chose the better path in the moment.
What is the most important thing you can or should do today? Some things have to be done like employment, but after that, what? What are your moments going to be made of? Where is your time going to be spent—this precious commodity?
I hope that you will allocate some time to consider God. After all, nothing will be worse than to arrive heavenward and have to introduce yourself to him. And, I hope you will use your time to be with others. Being around family and friends or serving others in the community is the good stuff of life—the icing.
No matter what, I hope you will think about what you are going to do “in the moment”.
Kent Simmons is the pastor of Canyon Community Church in Kingman, AZ.
