I agree with Selwyn – until we develop, and continue to develop, our relationship with God; we have no reference point to help us decide what are the important issues. We have no reliable standard on which to base life’s priorities.
Selwyn writes: “… Our life works best when we are whollysurrendered and yielded to God. When a person is yielded to God then that person doesn’t mind yielding to others over minor matters – matters that are not matters of principle, of course. But when a person is not yielded to God, not sure of the big, he or she makes an issue of every little thing. (Or, not to make an issue out of anything – that is, to opt out of life.) … Be sure of the big and the small things will take care of themselves.”
In regard to some Christians – there is a dangerous situation to avoid – and that is: those times when we are not wholly surrendered to Jesus and we still have one foot in the ways of this world. The danger is to confuse our priorities as seen through the eyes of Jesus with those priorities formulated by current world views. To me, this confusion becomes even more evident when some churches spend all their energy getting the small things right, and ignore (by their silence) the big issues. Perhaps they have lost confidence in their ability to discern what is important and what is just noise? What do you think?
I’ve taken some verses out of the text, set for reading and meditation, and rearranged the order of one verse, to make the excerpts flow a little better (Matthew 23: 1-25 [parts of], NLT): “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. “Everything they do is for show. …
… And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah (Jesus); and, all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.
The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
(23) “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel.”
I feel that many churches are now, modern examples of the Pharisees – they are by far, too interested in looking at ants, while they get stomped on by a herd of elephants – and, often their hypocritical ways, come about by trying to be friends (relevant) with this world.
In addition, I really like – this: ‘ … you have only one teacher, the Messiah (Jesus).‘ That is, not Pastor ‘so-and-so’, or Pope XYZ (btw, I’m not anti-Catholic); we only have one teacher – Jesus, listen to what He has to say, and live it.
***
[My dear wife, Neroli has left for the week-end to attend a Christen Women's Conference (Designer Women), at the Katoomba Christian Convention Centre: What's it all about, 'designer women', you may well ask? Well, here's a summary taken from their web site: "Have you ever stopped for a moment and wondered why you're here? Ever pondered if you were made to a design or just random? Or really asked yourself...who am I?''
Yet, I thought most women know, why they are here - to organise their husbands and children - well, that's what I get told. 
]
Be sure of the big
I agree with Selwyn – until we develop, and continue to develop, our relationship with God; we have no reference point to help us decide what are the important issues. We have no reliable standard on which to base life’s priorities.
Selwyn writes: “… Our life works best when we are whollysurrendered and yielded to God. When a person is yielded to God then that person doesn’t mind yielding to others over minor matters – matters that are not matters of principle, of course. But when a person is not yielded to God, not sure of the big, he or she makes an issue of every little thing. (Or, not to make an issue out of anything – that is, to opt out of life.) … Be sure of the big and the small things will take care of themselves.”
In regard to some Christians – there is a dangerous situation to avoid – and that is: those times when we are not wholly surrendered to Jesus and we still have one foot in the ways of this world. The danger is to confuse our priorities as seen through the eyes of Jesus with those priorities formulated by current world views. To me, this confusion becomes even more evident when some churches spend all their energy getting the small things right, and ignore (by their silence) the big issues. Perhaps they have lost confidence in their ability to discern what is important and what is just noise? What do you think?
I’ve taken some verses out of the text, set for reading and meditation, and rearranged the order of one verse, to make the excerpts flow a little better (Matthew 23: 1-25 [parts of], NLT): “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. “Everything they do is for show. …
… And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah (Jesus); and, all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.
The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
(23) “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel.”
I feel that many churches are now, modern examples of the Pharisees – they are by far, too interested in looking at ants, while they get stomped on by a herd of elephants – and, often their hypocritical ways, come about by trying to be friends (relevant) with this world.
In addition, I really like – this: ‘ … you have only one teacher, the Messiah (Jesus).‘ That is, not Pastor ‘so-and-so’, or Pope XYZ (btw, I’m not anti-Catholic); we only have one teacher – Jesus, listen to what He has to say, and live it.
***
[My dear wife, Neroli has left for the week-end to attend a Christen Women's Conference (Designer Women), at the Katoomba Christian Convention Centre: What's it all about, 'designer women', you may well ask? Well, here's a summary taken from their web site: "Have you ever stopped for a moment and wondered why you're here? Ever pondered if you were made to a design or just random? Or really asked yourself...who am I?''
Yet, I thought most women know, why they are here - to organise their husbands and children - well, that's what I get told.
]