Weighty Matters

Today’s message was written by guest pastor, Rev. Tasha Blackburn.

One of my heroes died a few years back. Fred Craddock was a pastor as well as being world-famous for his preaching. As we face a new year together, one of his stories keeps coming to my mind. Craddock told it, saying, “Glenn Adsit, a schoolmate from years ago, ministered mostly in China. He was under house arrest in China when the soldiers came one day and said, ‘You can return to America.’ They were celebrating, and the soldiers said, ‘You can take 200 pounds with you.’ Well, they’d been there for years. 

200 pounds. 

They got the scales out and started the arguments: two children, wife, husband. You know how it would go… I just must have this vase. And I need the computer. Well, what about my books? What about this? What about that? They weighed the stuff. Then they took this off, then that, and then weighed again. Finally, they got things right on the dot. 

200 pounds.

The soldiers returned and asked, ‘Ready to go?’ 
‘Yes,’ Glen said. 
‘You weigh the kids?’
‘No, we didn’t,’ he replied. ‘Weigh the kids.’
And in a moment, the vase and books and everything became trash. Trash. It happens.”

 When we fret and worry and weigh, we need to remember: have I weighed the kids yet? Have I focused on what really matters or am I just worrying around the edges of what truly counts? Jesus reminds us not to worry about things that–to us–may sound imperative and necessary but, to him, are not what really matters. He promises that if we will focus on God’s kingdom (if we will weigh the kids first) then everything else we need will come to us.

What trust and faith this takes! Let us pray for that trust and faith to carry us through this day.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to seek your kingdom. Help me to focus on what really matters in this life you’ve given me and help me let go of all else that would concern me. I cannot do this without your help so do not leave me, I pray. Amen.