What is First?
/
I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. -1Corinthians 7:29-31
Each month Kathy, Deb and I have a warden’s meeting. We meet to plan the agenda of the upcoming vestry meetings, a few weeks away. This meeting ALWAYS sneaks up on me. It seems like every time I turn around, there it is again already. How did a month fly by so quickly?
The warden’s meeting always reminds me how fast time flies, and in his letter to the Corinthians, Paul is also reminding them that the time is short. You may think you have all the time in the world, but blink your eyes and it’s next month already!
Therefore, it’s important to remember what is most important. We have so many important things in this world - marriages, feelings, possessions and all kinds of earthy dealings that can seem like the center of the universe at times. However, Paul reminds them, there is only one thing that is at the center of the universe, and that is our Creator.
Paul’s words seem rather Buddhist in their recommendation to ‘let go’ of the things that tether us to earth. He advocates holding all the important gifts of life very lightly - so lightly that you behave as if you don’t even have them. None of them will go with us when the time is soon up. So what is most important now and forever, Paul is saying, is our relationship with the Creator. Put that first before the months are all used up.
It’s often hard to imagine really putting God first before all things, but that is exactly what Jesus calls us to do - and exactly what Paul teaches. It does not mean you must disregard the things of the earth. It just means that if we put God first, our relationship with God will shape how we live with, in and among the things and creatures of the earth while we are here. Our relationship with God putseverything into a larger context than just what is ‘mine’ and helps us live our lives inspired by the love of God and as an echo of God’s love for us out toward others. If we honor God first and you will honor and prioritize all things better.
As we’ll also hear this Sunday, Christ’s call is enough to make the early disciples up and leave everything else behind on the spot. Is that a realistic thing for us to consider as disciples today? And if so, what might that look like?
