DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT

WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT?

Matthew 19:18a, 21-22

“He [the young man] said to Him, ‘Which ones?’ …. Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

This young man, like so many of us, wanted to pick and choose which commandments he was willing to obey. Jesus listed some of them – not to murder, steal, commit adultery, and to honor his parents, and he said he had kept them all (vs. 20).  He thought just living a "good" life was all that was necessary to please God.  But Jesus then pinpointed the most important commandment – the first one – which said, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). His earthly treasure – his wealth and his possessions – was his god, and he was not willing to give them up to make God first, so he went away sorrowful. Life can only be “perfect” (whole and complete) when God is first in my life. It is indeed a sad thing when I worship the “stuff” of this world instead of the true God. That is the most important commandment to keep.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Living a “good” life does not take the place of devotion to God.

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Have a worshiping day. Love you.