Someone insightfully said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”
What is the “Main Thing” for us as followers of Jesus? In Matthew 22:37-38, someone asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.’”
Jesus tells us the main thing when He calls us to, “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” He created us to have Him as our “Main Thing” in life – the One we love with all of our heart, our greatest Treasure, the purpose for which we are alive. In Him alone can we find the satisfaction for which He made us. When we are loving Jesus and keeping Him above anything else, He not only fulfills us, but also enables us by His strength to do the other things He calls us to do - “And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’” (Matthew 22:39-40)
How can we do this? A clear way to tell what holds the place of “Main Thing” in our lives is to look at the areas of our: ~ Love ~ Treasure ~ Thoughts ~ Motives ~ Time ~ Words ~ Actions. What do they say about what holds the place as “Main Thing” in our lives?
Other things clamor for the position of “Main Thing” in our lives. Things like people, self, possessions, entertainment, projects, ministry, etc. try for that position on a daily basis. When these things are in the position of “Main Thing”, they never satisfy and only lead to disappointment, distraction, discouragement, and instability.
Jesus is calling us to keep Him as our “Main Thing” in every area of our lives in: loving Him above anything or anyone, allowing Him to be the focus of our mind, following His commands, exalting Him in our motives, how we use our time, where we invest our resources, and how we live our lives.
If you see your need for Jesus to be your “Main Thing” in life, ask Him for His help. He will answer and give you grace to make it a reality. The more Jesus is our “Main Thing”, the more the rest of life will fit together beautifully.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
