What Matters Most To You?

It's a fair question. On the surface it's not very threatening. Bet you can come up with a list of things that matter to you. But what matters MOST to you? What is the one thing, above all other things that you treasure? Can you limit it to one thing? What is it?

Since this is a Bible Study, you're probably going for the spiritual answer, be honest, you did right? We know what we should say.

Let's set some rules…no condemnation here. This online study will work if we can be honest and not fear what everyone else will think. You can choose not to post your response, but we have to get real with our answers, even if it is just on the page of your own workbook. So I'll ask the question again and a little differently. What matters most to you? OR Where are you putting your energy, your time, your focus? Now we're getting beyond the spiritual, aren't we? Kelly Minter writes "many of us claim and worship God, but we've come to accept a lifestyle that depends upon most everything else. And whatever we depend upon we will most definitely serve." Is she right? God's Word confirms it.

2 Kings 17:33 (NIV) says "they worshipped the LORD, but the served their other gods." Then again and here it comes, in verse 41, "even while these people were worshipping the LORD, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did." And so do we.

How have we come so far in history and still battle the very same thing that got the children of Israel in so much trouble? God said, "No other gods." Sisters, here's what I've learned . . . it boils down to one thing. DISCONTENTMENT. From the minute that slippery snake sneaked and slithered his way into the garden, he set out to create in us (and girlfriends, we're so prone to this) discontentment. "Eve," he said, (my abridged version), "are you content to have just this, when you could have that too? God is holding out on you." The path of 'enlightenment' began; the only problem was it was a path that took us farther from contentment and satisfaction than we could have ever imagined. In seeking contentment, seeking something more, something that satisfies, something that fills that emptiness in our heart, we have lost paradise, just like sister Eve!

Moses called it a "great sin" (Ex 32:21). The chosen people of God, who had heard His very voice (Ex 20:22) and agreed to His commands, the same people who had seen His Presence in the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day, these very same people, just months into their journey from Egypt, crafted an idol to serve. They became discontent. Impatient. They felt they needed something more and they exchanged the glory of the living God for a golden calf. (Ps 106: 19-20) Now watch this! Exodus 32:25, "Moses saw that the people were running wild . . . and so become a laughingstock to their enemies." The NLT says "to the amusement of their enemies." They were mocked by the one who opposed them, (that sneaky, slithering snake!).

The enemy of our souls is greatly entertained and amused when we exchange the glory of the living God for our own golden calf. We become a laughingstock; we are mocked, just like the Israelites, by the one who opposes us and God.

Now the question becomes, not what matters most to you, but how do we get back what we've sacrificed and served to false gods? We've got to identify what we're serving and we've got to understand why we went there in the first place!

Over the next eight weeks, we are going to join our new friends, Kelly, Anadara, Alli, Lauri and Carrie as they look for answers to these questions: What do modern-day idols look like? Why are we serving them? How do we make them? How do we destroy them? Which ones are we serving? Is God the God of your life?

Grab your workbook and a glass of iced tea and let's dig in. Your goal (and mine) is to complete the first week's lesson by next Tuesday, July 14th. Check back on the blog regularly, during the week, as I'll post some thoughts and I hope you will too, it will be much more fun if I'm not the only one talking. What is God telling you? If He's talking to you, we all need to hear! Then, next Tuesday, I'll be back with some commentary and questions as we review our first week.

Take a look at the introduction Session 1 (pages 8-12). Pay special attention to the comments made by our new friends. There is probably one you relate to already! That's how we make friends, isn't it? I was struck by Carrie (page 10) who said, "We let what people think of us affect us." Let's be willing to set aside what we think that the rest will think and talk to one another. Your assignment is Week 1 (page 13-27).

Did today's post or the introduction stir a comment in you? Then chime in. Remember, we're not looking for judgment and condemnation; we're not looking for prose or an essay, but truth and dialog. Here's my last question, less soul searching…

What's your biggest challenge in doing this study online?

I'm praying for each one of you!

Donna