What are the most important things in life? When a person goes through a difficult stage of life we are often caused to think about that question. Somehow we spend lots of time and energy to acquire things, but for most people these possessions are not the most important things in life.
When it all boils down to things that matter, people seem much more important than things. I have to admit, I have been blessed with a beautiful home, and plenty of things. I don’t worry much about where my next meal will come from. Still, I have been through enough trials to understand that material things are not worth much when compared with the people I love.
When Janet was losing her strength and her ability to do things, and to enjoy the possessions we had acquired, a greater blessing was given. God helped us to see the beautiful relationships which had been developed over our lives. There are so many precious people who loved, and cared for us! There were so many who visited, and who cooked meals, and who read, or just sat and watched TV. Even now, as I think about the past year, my warmest memories are of the people who shared time, and blessed our lives.
Jesus spent a great amount his time on earth with people. He chose 12 men as disciples, and spent several years with them teaching, and traveling, and enjoying life with them. When God first created Adam, he saw that it was not good for man to be alone– so He created a help mate. In the Bible, there are lots of stories which point to the importance of developing spiritual friendships.
This fall, one of our primary goals as a church is to take a look at THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS OF LIFE: Relationships. There will be an 8-week sermon series about many of the key friendships and connections that most people share in life. We will also be encouraging every adult to join an 8-week small group. We will have 10-15 different groups from which to choose, and each group will share discussions about the topic from the previous weeks’ sermon. Because doing things together also helps people develop friendships, we will encourage each small group to have a project. It might be a mission project, or a project to help someone, or to help with a community need.
Our church members are good at helping when there is a need. You have been helpful and encouraging to many people, including my family and me. I hope our focus on THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS OF LIFE will just be an added bonus to the things you already do and enjoy.
I hope you will be watching for the listing of small groups which will be available, and that you will join one. After all, one of the important things of life is your church family, and those who pray for you and encourage you every week. Why not spend just a little more time with a group that you can laugh with, and share with, and learn with, and grow with?
