In the 1980s, I was involved in a management training session which developed our abilities to properly prioritize things from the essential to the non-essential; the most important to the less important; and the crucial to the insignificant. The purpose was to help us become effective managers in any company.
We had to imagine that we were isolated in the wilderness, with no help from anybody, and we had thirty items to choose from. Some of these items were of vital importance for our survival; others were trivial. To be able to survive, we had to list the items in the order of most important to least important; so it was essential to make wise choices.
I don’t recall who provided the most correct answers according to the experts who had designed the list, but I do remember choosing correctly seven items out of the ten first ones, and I had also placed the first three in the correct order.
This reminds me that in this life we have to make choices and prioritize things so that we don’t waste time on frivolous and trivial pursuits while the crucial matters are being neglected.
Set forth below are examples of goals and objectives which Church members and non-Church members pursue in their lives. They include:
–Craving for material goods and buying all kinds of toys in an effort to keep up with friends and neighbours.
–Getting involved in local politics, perhaps even running for the office of mayor, to make the community a better place.
–Getting involved in national political campaigns and propaganda, and voting for governmental candidates for the office of governor, senator, president, chancellor or prime minister.
–Being involved and actively engaged in the process of preaching and publishing the gospel of the Kingdom of God to the world as a witness in whatever capacity God sees fit for us. This would include the fact that we have the potential to become members of the very God Family in the future, and also, to give a warning message now to the modern houses of Judah and Israel, namely the white Anglo Saxon nations, as well as to all the nations on this globe, to announce to them impending doom as a result of their sins, coupled with the hope of a coming better world when Christ returns and establishes the government of God on the earth.
–Seeking to do everything physically possible to make sure we will be protected from the Great Tribulation at the place of safety; thereby focusing foremost on preserving our own life.
–Being involved in local outreach programs for the community and in missionary work in third-world countries in an effort to bring individuals to Christ and to be seen as shining lights, craving for recognition and glory from man; usually, but not always, with the proclamation of a wrong gospel message and a false Jesus Christ.
–Joining the military and the armed forces since we feel it is our duty to defend our country from enemies, domestic and foreign.
–Growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ so we can answer any questions in regard to the hope that lies within us.
–Seeking the pursuit of wealth and riches, realizing that a twisted concept of the golden rule applies so often in this world; namely, that those with gold rule; and we want to be part of that group.
These are just some of the pursuits that people get involved with. In regard to your spiritual salvation, how would you prioritize these pursuits? And which pursuits would you identify as the only two, which true Christians should and must engage in today?
The choice is ours. Let us ensure we make the right choices in the correct order.
