In his book, Anxious for Nothing, John Macarthur points out that as Christians we are singular in our intent. We pursue one goal accumulating treasure … in heaven. We have a single vision, which is God’s purpose, and most importantly one Master, the One True God. Personally, when I lose focus on what is important—serving God first, last and always—then my stress level rises. I find myself trying to go faster and faster and faster to get more and more done and then … I have to stop. I come to the point in the day or week when the list of what “needs” to get done overpowers the one thing I truly need to do, which is to spend more and more time with my God, praying for His Will, seeking His Purpose, and doing what He would have me do.

Each day I am a servant to God first, my family, clients, and everyone else after that. This is a big challenge for most (okay all of us) in some way, every day of the week. Recently I have been talking with many Christian Business owners, executives, and workers; the common theme is how long their days are and how much needs to get done. Many of these individuals talk about how little time they are spending at home with their families (there’s always more to do). There are always more clients to acquire and more meetings to attend and … they are all “doing it for my family” to “give them more.” I challenge you to truly examine the motives in your heart: is all of this about providing for the needs of your family or is it about being “successful” in the eyes of the world?

We must as Christians keep our sights on God. The most important provision we can provide to our families is reliance on God and spending time with Him and our family, fulfilling our specific roles. The absent parent, the workaholic father or mother, the grandparent or other relative that doesn’t have time or make time to spend with children, spouse, or other family members will one day realize that the treasure of relationships have tarnished because the focus was on things and not on people. This can also be true of the adult child who does not make time for the care of an ill or elderly parent.

God is about relationships: with Him, with our parents, with each other. One of the greatest treasures is family. Keep a singular focus when setting your daily priorities and remember the material treasures of this world are easily lost. The true treasures are stored in heaven and come from keeping God’s commandments.

Matthew 6:19–24 (NASB95)

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

20 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;

21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.

23 “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

 

Author:  Lea A. Strickland, MBA CMA CFM CBM GMC
Copyright ©2012 Lea A. Strickland
All Rights Reserved

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