Latecomers and absentees (part 2): Priorities and pivoting
It really matters that we discuss this topic especially when considering the fact that the coming of
Antichrist is near and Lord’s return is getting closer. In my previous message, by using the parable of the virgins, I explained how someone can miss Heaven by being late or absent from their purpose. I will get back to the parable of the virgins in a later stage of this post.
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus said:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
You see my friend,one of the reasons why many Christians are late in their purpose or are absent from their purpose is because their ‘primary needs are the main priorities of their lives’. I once was going through the same situation.
By primary needs, I mean: ‘food and drink, shelter, and clothing’
Whenever Christians prioritize their primary needs, they will fall into the trap of doing and choosing anything even if it means setting aside their God given purposes. Matthew 6:33 is a key text facilitating entrance into a God given purpose life.
If any Christian fails to apply Matthew 6:33, then it is likely that he/she will not live the life that God had in mind for them.
The principle of Matthew 6:33 has many lessons to offer but one of them revolves around priority.
You see, when it comes to embracing our God given purpose, Jesus was very smart about it. He said: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
‘Entering your God given purpose’ is about priorities.
Let us read the parable of the virgins in Matthew 25:1-13:
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
By comparing the two groups of virgins, we can clearly see that they both have different priorities. One group prioritized their mandate well while the other group clearly did not prioritize buying oil.
God is not against you seeking to fulfill your needs. He is against you making your needs a priority above His Kingdom and His requirements.
Here is a short glimpse on how many Christians can enter their God designed purpose:
When we make something a priority, it is likely that we will do something about it. But when we place a task at the bottom of our list, then we may not really do something about it because our resources, energy and time would have been spent on tasks placed in a higher position in our list.
Even if someone is busy into an activity that may take him/her away from their God given purpose, by making the Kingdom of God and His requirements a priority, they will be more likely to pivot towards their destiny. Even in a slow manner.
As an example, I was not always writing for a living. Part of my God given purpose consists in writing. There was a time where I would work in the retail industry while blogging and writing. Things turned slowly but they finally pivoted.
If you are a person struggling to enter in God’s purpose in your life, then read this:
I know that the world is filled with worries and concerns but at least even if you make small advancements towards your God given purpose, then you can increase your likeliness of fully living in the mission that God had designed for you.