On priorities and busyness

From time to time, we all need to examine our schedules, life rhythms, values, and priorities. For us, as believers, this is especially important because we have been left on this earth by God for a specific purpose – to spread the Kingdom of Christ throughout the world. But this global purpose is accomplished through setting measurable, concrete tasks. By fulfilling these, we reach the main goal. That is what we’ll briefly talk about today. How can we avoid mission the main thing?

The main thing in life is summed up as follows: 1) Love the Lord with all your heart, and 2) Love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:37-40; Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18).

So how can we put God first in our lives? A well-known verse helps: We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). In other words, our love for God grows in proportion to our awareness, acceptance, and experience of God’s love for us. And His love is always the starting point. By saturating our hearts with these truths – or more precisely, with the very essence of the Gospel – we grow in our responsive love for God!

As for the second kind of love – love for others – it is nourished by God’s love for us: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11).

It might seem like this is avoiding concrete steps or methods, which we often long for to help us get thins together. But in fact, being rooted in the Gospel is the most powerful tool in developing love for God and others. Notice, we’re not talking about church activity or even heroic deeds done for others, as described in (1 Cor. 13:1-3) – such as displaying extraordinary gifts, having faith that moves mountains, or even giving one’s body to be burned for others. We are talking about internal, sincere, committed, and growing love!

Only in such as state can we properly speak about the busyness of our lives. Because love for God and others will move some of us toward greater busyness and sacrifice, and others – to humility and the realization that we are not the “messiah” and must trust God rather than our many good deeds. Some need to lighten their schedule to refocus their heart on what matter most, while others may need to fill their schedule so their heart doesn’t drift from what matters most. The defining factor must always be our personal relationship with God. God bless you!

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints

• Thursday (6:30 PM) – Kid’s Bible School (open to all but required for parents), followed by a prayer service at 7:30 PM.
• Sunday services:
  • Worship Service in Russian at 9:00 AM
  • Worship Service in English at 11:15 AM
  • Evening Service at 6:00 PM