10 10 08 First Things First

“His disciples were saying to him, ‘Rabbi, eat something!’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you know nothing about.’ Then his disciples asked each other, ‘Did someone bring him food?’ Jesus said, ‘My food is to do what my Father sent me to do. My food is to finish his work. You say, “Four months more, and then it will be harvest time.” But I tell you, open your eyes! Look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest right now. Those who gather the crop are already getting paid. They are already harvesting the crop for eternal life. So those who plant and those who gather can now be glad together. Here is a true saying. “One plants and another gathers.” I sent you to gather what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work. You have gathered the benefits of their work." (John 4:31-38 NIrV)


Jesus had just finished His conversation with the Samaritan woman. She was so amazed at finding the Messiah, she went to her village to tell the others and they were coming to hear the Good News for themselves. The disciples were concerned for the physical needs of Jesus; was he hungry? Did He already eat? Why was He not concerned? They did not see the big picture! Jesus had been fully nourished by the woman’s acceptance of Him and the salvation of many more on the way. This was the Father’s will, that all be saved and no one perish.

Many folks know the Word of God and know His will. The trouble comes in when we get so caught up in the physical, that we miss the spiritual. We miss God at work right in front of our very eyes. We’re so concerned about our next meal, the next meeting, the next paycheck, even the next ministry event, that we miss God! We must put FIRST THINGS FIRST!

Does it turn us on to know that the meal we may buy a homeless man may just have him ask us “Why?” Then, as Jesus was able to do with the Samaritan lady, we can sit with him and explain the love of Christ. Would you rather invest in Wall Street or invest in children starving for a relationship with someone? Would you sacrifice the football pool or lavish meals out to support mission trips bringing God’s love to someone who has lost everything they ever possessed in life? Have you considered this: there are pastors, ministers, missionaries, and even fellow members of your church who consistently sacrifice meals, clothes, health and retirement benefits, and more to feed on God’s work rather than supply their own basic needs?

I believe this is what Jesus was saying to His followers here. We can’t be so caught up in what we think we need and thereby miss God working right under our very noses. I believe we all can do with less stuff, less activity, and less busyness. I believe that if we slow down a bit and hear from God, we can get a new perspective on life. Personally, I have come to find out our family has done so much more with so much less in the past five years or so. It’s unbelievable! But then, so is my DADDY!

Is God calling you to do the unbelievable? Is He pressing upon your heart to do something you can’t figure out…can’t make sense of…more than you can imagine? Welcome to His will! His wisdom makes our ways look so foolish! His plans throw us completely off our five-year plans. God can do unbelievable things in our lives, if we put FIRST THINGS FIRST!

"But put God's kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do. Then all of those things will also be given to you.” (Matthew 6:33 NIrV)