On Christmas Eve of 2007 our family left my parent’s home and began the trip to Aberdeen, SD to spend some time with Kristin’s family. What should have been a simple, quick trip ended up with our oldest child, Max, hospitalized due to a perforated bowel he endured from an accident.
A couple months later we were gearing up for Arctic BLAST, and wouldn’t you know…Max ended up at Children’s with abdominal pain days before we were supposed to leave. The result was lack of preparations on my end (though the adults stepped up big time). I found myself sitting in the chapel before a session praying that the LORD would give me a message.
The theme of the weekend was built around the game of LIFE. I was sensing direction to address the meaning of life and trying to capture the bigger picture of living in God’s Kingdom. In those moments, the LORD gave me one of my favorite acronyms as I meditated on Matthew 6:19-24 (last night’s passage):
LIFE = Live Intentionally For Eternity
Our big idea last night was that everyone serves someone/something, but only the LORD is worthy of our service!
The passage lends itself to stating and addressing the following:
1. What you don’t do. (we don’t live for our earthly kingdoms)
2. What you do do. (we live for the eternal Kingdom of God)
3. How to know. (ask yourself what you value – heart analysis)
4. What happens to you? (Kingdom of God lights us up; the other kingdom darkens our soul)
5. Why not both? (we’ll end up middle-of-the road people who become road kill)
6. What’s the reward?
When you serve money, worry and anxiety are your reward. When you serve the LORD, life and
peace are your reward.
Questions to ask at the table or when you’re driving in the car:
- What’s something you value in life? Would people who look at your actions be able to tell that you value that thing?
- What does Jesus say not to do? Why does He say not to do that?
- What does Jesus say to do? What do you think that means?
- According to Jesus, how can we know where our hearts (our affections and loyalties) really are?
- What does Jesus say we cannot do? What does hearing this cause you to consider? How do you feel about it?
ACTION STEPS:
Would you say you’re currently experiencing more worry and anxiety or peace and joy?
What does that tell you about who you are serving?
Do you want to experience something different than you are now? What change do you need to make for that to happen?