April 16, 2014

There is a fundamental difference between doing things right, and doing the right things. My birth order and personality type easily steer me toward doing things right. Problem is, I can easily obsess with doing unimportant thing right.

“Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, ‘Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?’ … 
Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?’ ” (Matthew 9.10-11,14)

Jesus was often challenged concerning procedures - fasting, ceremonial cleansings, observance of the Sabbath, etc. Those obsessed with doing things right often clashed with the One focused on doing the right things. “But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9.13)

The continuing challenge before every follower of Christ is to guard against doing things right at the expense of doing the right things. The right things done the right way is always the objective, but it is much to easy to “major in minors”, so to speak.

What matters most today? Many of us have a to-do list in front of us to remind us of certain tasks to focus on today. But, amidst the WHAT of these details, will we stop to ask WHY? Why is this on my list? Why is this considered important?

It’s really hard to list loving God with heart, mind, soul, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22.36-40) on our to-do list. But, without question, these are the right things to do. How do I make sure to focus on these right things, and not neglect them by obsessing over doing unimportant things the right way? 

Right procedures; right priorities. May we seek our Father’s wisdom in directing us to make sure that these priorities work in harmony, rather than conflict.

©Steve Taylor, 2014
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