MAJORING ON THE MINORS

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” - Matthew 6:33

Some things are more important than others. It is easy to talk about priorities, it is another thing to regularly maintain proper priorities. One of the main problems facing the American church is this issue of priorities. We are majoring on minor issues. We are emphasizing good things at the neglect of vital things. We have forsaken the basic aspects of our faith while stressing lesser issues ... some issues we shouldn't address in the first place.

Jesus said, "... seek ye first the kingdom of God..." Many in the American church seem to be seeking their own kingdom or the kingdom of their local church rather than the kingdom of God. Shouldn't we be pursuing the things God has commanded us to pursue? Shouldn't we be emphasizing the issues that God emphasizes.

We are majoring on minor things. Here are a few examples:

1. WE'VE EMPHASIZED PLEASURE OVER PRAYER

Americans have overemphasized pleasure. Our culture is a hedonistic culture. Think about how the average American spends his “free time”: Television, social media, music and going to the theater. We are a pleasure-seeking society. Local churches are not much different. A church typically draws its largest crowds for a potluck dinner, a concert or sports. The smallest crowd for a church is typically the weekly prayer meeting. Most Christians get excited about a special speaker or a concert, but he will not show up to pray. Yet prayer is needed more than ever. The church is not commanded to play, but she is commanded to pray. When prayer not a major event for a church, we are majoring on minor things.

2. WE'VE EMPHASIZED ESCHATOLOGY OVER EVANGELISM

Another observation I've made is that many are interested in Bible prophecy. They will show up to hear an exposition on the book of Revelation or go to Bible prophecy conferences. I'm not saying that it is wrong to study prophecy. We should study prophetic Scripture. I just fear that many have a mystical excitement about the subject and nothing more. At the same time, Bible prophecy should give us a great incentive to spread the Gospel. Knowing that time is running out, we should be actively sharing the Gospel with an unbelieving world. We are commanded to spread the Gospel. A lack of evangelism is a sure sign that we are majoring on minor things.

3. WE'VE EMPHASIZED RELEVANCE OVER REPENTANCE

I am amazed at the number of pastors who think that their main job is to be “hip” or “cool.” They want their church and ministry to be “relevant.” God has not called us to be “cool,” but obedient. He has not called us to be socially relevant, but Biblically faithful. When pastors and churches emphasize relevance, they usually do so while undervaluing repentance. You usually don't hear one of those “cool” preachers give a stirring sermon on repentance. Repentance is not a “cool” subject. Yet it is a needed subject. Jesus preached about repentance. John the Baptist preached about repentance. The Apostle Peter, on the day of Pentecost, commanded the people to repent. The Apostle Paul challenged his listeners to repent. Real life-change only occurs when a person repents. A person can repeat a “sinner's prayer” without repenting. He can join a church without repenting. He can be baptized without repenting. But a man will never go to heaven without repenting. Rather than trying to be cool and relevant, let's get busy preaching the Gospel. The Gospel is not always popular, but it is always relevant. It isn't important that we be “cool,” “hip” or popular. It is vital that we are right in our living and preaching. When we deliberately omit repentance from our message, we are majoring on minor things.

4. WE'VE EMPHASIZED POLITICS OVER PREACHING

Sadly, the American Church today is known more for its political action than anything else. Sometimes Christians are known more for what we're against than what we are for. We are emphasizing politics too much these days. Political change is not the answer for America, Christ is. It is time for preachers to get back in the pulpit and preach again. Let me be clear. We need God-called, God-led, God-anointed preachers who will stand and boldly proclaim the Word of God. The Bible does not say that heaven rejoices over one who changes political parties. The Bible DOES say that there is rejoicing in heaven when a sinner repents. A thousand years from now, all that will matter is where a person is spending eternity. Preach the Word, not politics. When we emphasize politics, we are majoring on minor things.

5. WE'VE EMPHASIZED PREFERENCES OVER PEOPLE

Often we are guilty of emphasizing preferences instead of people. We can talk at long lengths about doctrinal preferences (like a defense or opposition to Calvinism). We can talk excitedly about our musical preferences or even Bible translation preferences. Yet we won't open our mouth to talk to anyone about Jesus. When we overemphasize preferences, we are majoring on minor things.

6. WE'VE EMPHASIZED STRATEGIES OVER SANCTIFICATION

We are also guilty of programming our churches and ministries, just like a person would program a TV or radio station. Some pastors approach their ministry like a CEO does a corporation. The problem is that the church is not a corporation. Rather than plotting a strategy, let us implement the strategy God has already given us in His Word. God wants a pure church, untainted from the world. Rather than focusing on strategy, we need to emphasize sanctification once more. Our members need to grow in holiness. When holiness is neglected, we are majoring on minor things.

7. WE'VE EMPHASIZED WEALTH OVER WORSHIP

Finally, we are guilty overemphasizing wealth. Just like the church of Laodicea, the American church is a wealthy church. We think it is more important to have great looking sanctuary than to have a Biblically-driven church. We can spend an enormous amount of money on the image of our church, but very little worshiping the God who birthed the church. True worship is really missing from churches these days. We like to stress professionally sounding music, trendy programs and self-help messages. At the end of the day, our focus is on ourselves rather than God. We are majoring on minor things.

It is time we get back to majoring on major things. Love God. Love others. Spread the Gospel. Help those in need. Read our Bibles. Spend quality time in the prayer closet. Worship God regularly. Invest in God's Kingdom.

We need to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. When we do, we'll be majoring on major things.