I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. — Philippians 2:20-21
These words from Paul really hit me when I read them. Paul commended Timothy for his genuine compassion for others. He said all the others only cared for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus. This made me wonder, what do I care about?
Am I more concerned about what matters to me or about what matters to Jesus?
The honest answer to that question breaks my heart.
What matters to me: having nice clothes to wear for Sunday.
What matters to God: caring for those in distress and remaining separate from the world.
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. –James 1:27
What matters to me: deciding which songs to do for Sunday and making sure we sound good.
What matters to God: coming before Him with clean hands a pure heart.
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. — Psalm 24:4
What matters to me: having enough money to pay my bills
What matters to God: seeking Him first, above all else
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. –Matthew 6:33
What matters to me: what people think about me
What matters to God: what people think about His Son
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” — Mark 8:29
What matters to me: spending time on the internet
What matters to God: spending time with Him.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. –Jeremiah 29:13
What matters to me: the sin in other people's lives
What matters to God: the sin in my life
How can you think of saying, 'Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye. Luke 6:42
Father, I'm so thankful for Your amazing grace and mercy. And I rejoice in the fact that I'm not the same person I used to be. Father, Your love is changing me, drawing me closer to You everyday. I love spending time reading Your Word and communicating with You. I desire to be like Your Son in my words and actions . . . but I know I fall short. Continue this good work You have started in me, making me more like You so that what matters to Jesus always matters to me.
This is the biggest problem we have when we relate to a relationship with jesus. We often forget about what matters to Him and bring all of our frail and burdensome baggage into a divine relationship. Eventually we will unwind and we will be on the same level where joy and peace abound. http://www.dorthdunbar.com/