Regarding Eternity: Primary Focus

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Primary Focus

Here's a profound quote by Francis Chan I recently came across:

“Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.”

Anyone else wake up one day to realize that something other than God has become the primary recipient of your limited energy and brain-power? (Shhh...don't say the "I" word...)

When it happens, it's startling. It happened to me, recently. I woke up one day and realized that I devote a significant amount of time and energy to business, sales, and acquiring money. And by "significant", I mean, excessive.

Perhaps it's because my wife is now a stay-at-home-mom, and I'm a 26 year old with a 1 year old at home and a bit of an anxiety issue. Perhaps it's the sense of "security" it gives me to acquire money; it makes me feel like I'm protecting my family and "doing my job as a man". Seriously...I have to ask myself...is that a joke? Am I playing a joke on myself?

Don't get me wrong, it's good to provide security for your family, and to be financially stable. But when it crosses over to the realm of "need", as in, you "need" to have money to feel secure...well, that's not OK. Security comes from God, not some stupid little thing like money. God provides and protects. God gives wealth and takes it away. If God trusts you with money, do you think it's prudent to allow that money to become your focus? No, not for a Christian. Seek FIRST the Kingdom. God will not stand for anything other than Him to be the focus of one of his chosen children.

Some time ago, at my church, the pastor said something to the effect of:

"Your primary focus in life is what you think about when you're not prompted to do so."

That stuck with me, and I'm glad it did. If that "primary focus" is not God, something's off.

-G

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Rwandan Man's Story

In 1980 a young man from Rwanda was forced by his tribe to either renounce Christ or face certain death. He refused to renounce Christ, and he was killed on the spot. The night before he had written the following commitment which was found in his room:

“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed, the die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made- I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed vision, worldly talking, cheap giving & dwarfed goals.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till He stops me & when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear.”