{"id":1100,"date":"2016-08-11T01:57:29","date_gmt":"2016-08-11T01:57:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/takingeverythoughtcaptivetoobeychrist.wordpress.com\/?p=1100"},"modified":"2016-08-11T01:57:29","modified_gmt":"2016-08-11T01:57:29","slug":"what-matters-most","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/what-matters-most\/","title":{"rendered":"What Matters Most"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get a degree; then another one, and another one. Get a good job. Make lots of money. Live in a nice area and get a nice house. Drive a fancy car. Hang out with prestigious people. Be successful. Retire young and move to a beach house on a golf course and spend your evenings on a yacht. The demands of society are many.<\/p>\n

Pastoral translation: Go to Bible college. Go to seminary. Get your masters; then your PhD. Speak in Greek and Hebrew. Pastor a church and make it grow to the tens of thousands. Write a lot of books. Speak at the most prestigious conferences. The demands of business-model-pastoring are many.<\/p>\n

In and of themselves these are all fine aspirations; some of them very good things. But let us remember the example of Jesus and not forget what matters most: who we are in the sight of God. Amidst the demands of here and now, let us keep at the forefront of our minds that life after death is much longer than our brief moments here. I have two main thoughts on this.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Our Identity<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    While societal success and achievements may get us into doors and improve our standard of living, they don\u2019t actually increase our value. As human beings made in the image of God, there is not a single one of us worth a penny more than another \u2013 regardless of what our bank accounts may read. A man with his degrees framed on his office wall is of no more worth than a man with no office at all. If who we are in the sight of God is what matters most, then we must know what God looks at. Does God look at your bank account or what\u2019s in your garage? Of course not; He looks at the heart. Does God look at your ministry resume of church attendance and books authored? Of course not; He looks at the heart.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    But if God looks at the heart, should we not all be afraid, then \u2013 since our hearts are full of evil (Ecclesiastes 9v3)? So we should. This should be our main concern. Let us look then to Christ. It is Christ who makes new creatures (2 Cor. 5v17). It is Christ who stood and stands in our place, as our substitute, satisfying the justice of God. Let our being in Christ, be our main concern.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Heed the Warnings<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Let us be wise and heed the warnings of riches that the Bible gives us. The rich young ruler walked away from Jesus because he held tighter to his riches rather than to Christ. By holding tight to his riches, it was his riches that held him a prisoner. Let us not be prisoners of worldly acclaim.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      No matter what value society may slap on you, remember that in Christ, God values you as His son or daughter. In Christ you are a royal heir to eternal riches in the new heaven and new earth. In Christ, you\u2019ll be rich forever.<\/p>\n

      Think on these words from JC Ryle: \u201cTo have a place and a title and a position in society is not nearly so important as people think. It is a great sin to be covetous and worldly and proud: but it is no sin to be poor. It matters not so much what money we have, and where we live, as what we are in the sight of God.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      \u00a0 Get a degree; then another one, and another one. Get a good job. Make lots of money. Live in a nice area and get a nice house. Drive a fancy car. Hang out with prestigious people. Be successful. Retire young and move to a beach house on a golf course and spend your evenings […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":685,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,1],"tags":[274,562,678,679,698,699,802,837,1056,1333],"class_list":{"0":"post-1100","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-culture","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-christ","9":"tag-gospel","10":"tag-jenkins","11":"tag-jesus","12":"tag-josh","13":"tag-joshua","14":"tag-matters","15":"tag-most","16":"tag-riches","17":"tag-what","18":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4634,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/about-that-brandon-guy\/","url_meta":{"origin":1100,"position":0},"title":"About That Brandon Guy","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"November 2, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"In recent times a phenomena known as \"let's go Brandon\" has been making the rounds. If you have no idea what I am talking about, a quick internet search will catch you up to speed. In short, it's an \"undercover\" way of saying \"f*** Joe Biden.\" Many Americans feel quite\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Culture","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/biden.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/biden.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/biden.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/biden.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/biden.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4380,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/to-the-people-and-legislators-of-missouri\/","url_meta":{"origin":1100,"position":1},"title":"To the People and Legislators of Missouri","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"March 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The following post is a speech that was given at the abortion abolition rally at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City on the tenth of March, the year of our Lord two thousand twenty one. \u00a0 My fellow Missourians and abortion abolitionists, we are gathered here today in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Culture","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/03\/capitol.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/03\/capitol.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/03\/capitol.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/03\/capitol.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1216,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/the-means-of-sovereignty\/","url_meta":{"origin":1100,"position":2},"title":"The Means of Sovereignty","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"November 23, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cWhen he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, \u2018The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Gospel"","block_context":{"text":"Gospel","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/gospel\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4233,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/fear-of-being-canceled\/","url_meta":{"origin":1100,"position":3},"title":"Fear of Being Canceled","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"November 3, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"42\u00a0Nevertheless,\u00a0many even of the authorities believed in him, but\u00a0for fear of the Pharisees they did not\u00a0confess it, so that they would not be\u00a0put out of the synagogue;\u00a043\u00a0for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. - John 12:42-43 \u00a0 Introduction Fear is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"authorities\"","block_context":{"text":"authorities","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/tag\/authorities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/11\/canceled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/11\/canceled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/11\/canceled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4168,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/beauty-conflict-and-the-dinner-table\/","url_meta":{"origin":1100,"position":4},"title":"Beauty, Conflict, and the Dinner Table","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"September 7, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Six days before\u00a0the Passover,\u00a0Jesus therefore came to Bethany,\u00a0where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.\u00a02\u00a0So they gave a dinner for him there.\u00a0Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.\u00a03\u00a0Mary therefore took a pound[a]\u00a0of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/09\/Luther.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/09\/Luther.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/09\/Luther.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/09\/Luther.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3753,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/can-anything-good-come-out-of-nazareth-john-143-51\/","url_meta":{"origin":1100,"position":5},"title":"Can Anything Good Come Out of Nazareth? John 1:43-51","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"May 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Verse 43: Here we have a new day in the flow of the narrative in which Jesus decides to go to Galilee. As we saw in our passage last week, Jesus called his first disciples, Andrew, an unnamed disciple, and Simon Peter. As this new day begins, Jesus continues\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/05\/fd22c-philipcallsnathanaelunderfigtree.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/05\/fd22c-philipcallsnathanaelunderfigtree.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/05\/fd22c-philipcallsnathanaelunderfigtree.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1100","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/685"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1100"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1100\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}