Tasks and responsibilities constantly barrage us, but gratefully, only a very few things matter. Every day we seem to add additional tasks to our to-do lists. There is an unending stream of new things to which we can read, watch, or listen. As technology advances at a blistering pace, there is always something we’re being told we should learn. It’s exhausting and overwhelming.
I love the sage advice of A. W. Tozer here. He said, “Nothing that matters is new.” That’s comforting and clarifying. All those things we keep adding to our lives are rarely, if ever, of any true consequence. They are just things we add to keep us busy or to keep up with those around us. We don’t need any of that; we simply need to focus on what really matters.
What really matters are those things that will last. The love of God, the teachings of Jesus, and the mission to which our Lord calls us. Everything else is just noise. God speaks in a still small voice, so if your senses are being bombarded with noise, I can assure you the barrage is not from God. The devil loves to confuse, distract, and overwhelm. So, when you are feeling confused, distracted, or overwhelmed, guess whose game you’re playing? Feeling those emotions is a good indication you are not focusing on what really matters, but on the cares and concerns of this world.
God is the same yesterday as He is today and will be forever. He is truth, and He is love. When it comes down to it, what really matters is God and nothing else. All the other things orbiting your personal universe are not worthy of your time or effort; only Jesus is. We have allowed the trappings of the world to infiltrate our churches and our lives. It is time to repent and get rid of all those things.
What really matters is Jesus. Start there. When you are feeling harried or overloaded, stop doing everything that doesn’t glorify God or move His mission forward. Jesus told us if we love Him, we will obey His commands (John 14:15). Those are the things we should do. He also said to take His message everywhere we went (Matthew 28:18-20). Do that. When you meet Jesus face to face, you will never be sorry you didn’t enjoy more pleasures on earth. But I promise you will regret not doing more for Him in the time He gave you to do it.
Jesus made it clear the most important command is to love Him with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind (Mark 12:28-31). He was also clear that we should love everyone as we do ourselves. These are the things that really matter. Nothing else you do is worth anything. If you think living your life for anything other than Christ is going to end well, you are both mistaken and deceiving yourself. What really matters is not what you earn, what status you achieve, or what people think of you. All that matters is what you do for Jesus. Get rid of the noise and do what really matters in this life.