A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of going to Monday Night Football with one of our church members, David Mills. He treated me to the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. Even though it wasn’t much of a game for the Cowboys, I felt like I learned a lot about life just by attending that game.

During the course of that evening, I had the opportunity to talk and to listen to some Philadelphia Eagles fans. The man sitting next to me at Texas Stadium had flown from Delaware to Dallas to watch his Eagles. A few other gentlemen I met had driven from Jacksonville Florida all the way to Dallas, the night before the game, to see their Eagles. What was fascinating for me was listening to these people describe the lengths they go to each week to see their team. One man told me, and I quote, “You gotta do whatever you’ve gotta do to see your team”.  It also amazed me to learn the amount of money they spend each week to watch their team in person. The man from Delaware when into great lengths about the thousands of dollars he has spent to see the Eagles.

As I listened to them, I wondered, are the Philadelphia Eagles the most important thing in their lives? Based on what they were saying, it sure seemed that way. However, I don’t know their hearts. Maybe it’s just an interest of theirs. However, what I learned from them challenged me, what is the most important thing in my life?

There are many ways to present this question. Therefore, I’ll give you different variations of the same question. What do you build your life around? What you do live for? What drives you?

What is the most important thing in your life?

If people were to be honest, some would say that their kids are the most important thing in their lives. For others, their job is the most important thing in their life. For yet others, money and status is the most important thing in their life. For some, their spouse is the most important thing in their life. Others would say that their grandkids are the most important thing, others would say their happiness is the most important thing, others would say that sex is the most important thing; others would say that sports are the most important thing, etc., etc., etc…

It’s not that the things I’ve just mentioned aren’t important, they are important; however, are they the MOST important thing in your life.

I have a challenge for you: and this is not an easy challenge. If you have the courage, ask those closest to you to tell you what the most important thing is in your life. Whether you realize it or not, you and I talk about the things that are the most important to us. We also spend money on the things that are most important to us. What I’m saying is this; people can usually tell what is most important to you and me.

For instance, this past week, I read a Christianity Today article from this past year that listed what foreigners think of our country.  In this study, foreigners from different countries were asked the following question about the United States: “What do you think is most important to Americans?” The top three answers were as follows: WEALTH, MILITARY POWER, & DECADENCE (SEX AND VIOLENCE).

It saddened me when I read that study. Sincerely, I hope those three aren’t what is most important to Americans.  However, the study should help our country pause to consider what is really important to us. In fact, other people often see things about us that we don’t want them to see, whether that’s on a national level or a personal level. What people say about us as a country and us as individuals shouldn’t be ignored, because they might indeed be telling us what is most important to us.

That brings us to the scripture for the day that Hallie Warnock read a few moments ago.  

Matthew 19:16-22

Most of us are familiar with the story of the rich young ruler. However, I want you to look at his story from this angle. What was the most important thing in this ruler’s life? It was his wealth. Even though this young ruler wanted to get eternal life, he still chose to make wealth the most important thing in his life.        Why?

Before we are too hard on this guy, I think we better take a deeper look in our own mirror. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). However, you and I often serve two masters. Therefore, that brings us back to the fundamental question I presented earlier, “What or who is your true master?” Is Jesus Christ the object of your highest devotion-or do you have another master?

 I’ve often wondered why it is we have such a hard time talking about our relationship with Christ with other people. Even talking about what God is doing in our lives right now to other people seems hard to us at times. Honestly, I have struggled with it in my past, because I felt like I had to have all the right answers or all the right scripture to talk to someone about my faith. Follow me here; I have interests in life that I have no problem talking about. For example, I don’t have to sit around thinking about how I’m going to tell people about my wife. Furthermore, as a fan of the Texas Longhorns and Buffalo Bills, I don’t have to sit around thinking about how I’m going to tell people about the teams I support. I talk about my wife and I talk about my hobbies because they are important to me. You and I talk about the things that are most important to us. Could it be that we, I included,  have a hard time talking about what God is doing in our lives, because that really isn’t what is most important to us.

A lot of us say that we trust Jesus for our salvation. But if we were to be truthful, we don’t always trust him with our lives. 

Why is it that like this young ruler, there are other things more important to us than following Christ?

One of my youth told me recently that the reason other things were more important to him than Christ was because he knew more about other things in life, like video games, than he knows about Christ.

Maybe another reason we choose to make other things more important is because it’s what WE WANT and we don’t really care to know what God wants for our lives. I’ve done this numerous times in my life. You know the mindset, I want what I want. The key word is I.

Like the young ruler, I think a good prayer for you and I would be for us to ask God the following, “What do I still lack?”  Ask him to show you what the most important thing is in your life. If that most important thing isn’t Christ, ask him to take prominence in your life, and then allow him to do his will through you.

In a purpose driven life devotional I read this past Wednesday, I was reminded of how I need to let go of some things and put my entire life into God’s hands. Funny enough, the devotional revolved around a scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. 

If you would, watch it with me and then we’ll discuss.

At the end of the movie, having found the Holy Grail, Indiana Jones is tempted to take it with him from its hiding place in an obscure cave.  He knows the grail is supposed to stay where it is.

Nevertheless, Indiana Jones tries to reach with one hand for the Grail that has lodged itself in the rock, while holding onto his father’s hands with the other, as he dangles over a bottomless pit.  As strange as this sounds, that is often how it is with our lives. We’ve got one hand in God’s hand and the other hand is trying to take hold of something else

(whatever drives us). The words of Indiana’s father (Sean Connery) finally brings him to his senses: “Indiana! Let it go!” Even though it’s just a movie, I think our heavenly father is often calling us to “let it go”. This morning, I’d like you to think about what you need to let go of. It may be something very important in your life, but unfortunately, it has taken priority over Jesus.

In this season of Advent, it is important for us to examine our hearts to see if Jesus really is the most important thing in our life.  Remember, when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.

Would you pray with me.