What Will I Give Him?

Nathan has spent the past three weeks teaching us. Let's recap!

Two weeks ago, he taught from Matthew 13:44-46. It is the passage about a man who sells all he has to be able to purchase a pearl of great value and another man who did the same to purchase a field with a treasure hidden in it.

Our conclusion that day was that what the man GAINED was obviously worth more than what he gave up. We listed all the things we have in Christ, for that is what we gain. (See the post below from December 27.)

Last week, he continued on the theme, and then talked about the value of what we gain by serving Christ, and reminded us that we cannot focus on two things at the same time. We cannot pursue Christ wholeheartedly, if our attention is on something else. "No man can serve two masters." (Matthew 6:24)

So today, with those two concepts in mind--the great worth of what we gain in Christ and the fact that it is impossible to pursue Christ and something else at the same time--we talked about the importance of being set apart for Him. Remember that when we are set apart for Him it means we are also set apart from something else. It involves giving up whatever would keep us from pursuing him with a single minded focus.

Now this doesn't mean that God wants us all to sell or give away all we have, live on the streets, quit our jobs and sit around and pray all day. We don't need to do anything unless He tells us to. We don't need to make a renewed commitment to do more or be more or take on more. We need to listen and obey Him. If He tells us to take on something, do it! If He tells us to give up something, do it!

The point is to listen to Him. Ask Him what is keeping you from focusing on Him, and when He tells you what it is, then repent and obey Him. He may tell you to give up your focus on one of the things we listed on the white board: toys, hard work, children/grandchildren, sports, retirement, marriage, relationships, causes, etc. Are any of those things bad or wrong? Of course not! But if they are becoming the focus of your life, then they have become an idol in your life. You cannot focus on two things at once. You cannot serve two masters.

Focus on Christ as your ONLY master. Listen to what He tells you to do. Adjust your life accordingly!

Thoughts?