Priority Focus

Whether you're a top executive or a late-night stock boy, chances are at some point in your career, you've had to take orders and work for someone. Your goal is to complete a task assigned to you by a superior, and contribute to the company's mission by being a team player. This has become the norm and no one questions it - it's how things work. But imagine showing up to work one day and your boss tells you, "John, your responsibility is no longer to run those reports or stock these shelves. From now on, as soon as you get to work, report to my office. Your main objective in this company is now to get to know me. Forget everything you've been doing, all of that will work itself out. Your main concern is simply to discover who I am. I want to be your best friend." That changes things, doesn't it? It's completely unorthodox, and goes completely against American culture.

In a job interview last week, I was asked what my biggest weakness is. It certainly isn't the first time I've been asked that, as every potential employer seems to think it's an important piece of information to know. I've always thought it would be intriguing to know the array of answers they get to this question. Lately, one of my biggest weaknesses has been coming to light. I try to do the work of God without involving Him. I focus so heavily on the things which I think I have been called to that I often end up neglecting Christ completely. But, that's not a bad problem. Or is it? As a die-hard missionary, my focus is supposed to be on spreading the love of Christ, right? After all, that's what I've been "called" to do. Ask my fiancée, or my parents. I eat, sleep, and breathe missions. I can't get enough of it. It's my job.

This morning, as I prepared for "work", my boss called. He spoke quietly, yet very direct - right to my heart. His words pierced every level of my defenses, and His message was clear. "Stop trying so hard to serve Me, and just get to know Me." I couldn't argue. I came home and shut myself up in my room. I began to read Psalm 23, a passage I had committed to memory as an eleven year old AWANA student, and perhaps one of the most popular, well-known passages in all the Bible. The words lept off the page and wrapped around my heart, taking me by surprise. This dusty, stale passage came alive. In all it's glory, it captured my attention and drew me in. One read-through and my mind immediately brought up the memory file in a computer-like fashion. It must have been ten minutes later than I found myself repeating it, over and over.

I took a few moments to flip through my African Bible Commentary and read what some African scholars had to say about the passage. What an incredible reminder of it was of my state of helplessness as a sheep, and God's miraculous love to meet every need I'll ever have. His love for me was overwhelming in that moment. My heart was drawn to the verse that sets the tone for the lesson I learned this morning. In Mark 12, we find Jesus conversing with the Sadducees, when one man asks, "of all the commandments, which is the most important?" Here it is in our culture: "Boss, out of all of my job responsibilities, which one should I focus on most?" The answer is nothing short of beautiful. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength." "Get to know ME!"

I have been called to mission work, and have, in recent days, had the incredible opportunity to make it my full-time focus. But my greatest instruction rings clear this morning. Above all else, my top priority is getting to know my Creator. Romans 12 says that if I do not conform to the patterns of this world, but allow myself to be transformed by Christ, I will know God's good, pleasing, and perfect will for my life.

I thank God for my reality check this morning. What about you? Have your priorities shifted? Where is your focus? Feel free to leave it in a comment below. I'd love to hear your heart.