Remember The Business!

There was a super-salesman who sold a very complicated filing system to a thriving business. Three months later this salesman decided to visit the company to see how well the new filing system was working out.
“It is working magnificently,” responded the company president, “out of this world.”
“And how is your business getting along now?” asked the salesman.
The president smiled. “Oh, we had to give up our business in order to run the filing system!”

Priorities! What our business is all about! Do we get it confused at times? Do we end up getting CAUGHT UP IN THE PROCESS AND FORGET THE PURPOSE?

Jesus was faced with Jewish leaders who had some difficulties distinguishing priorities. On one occasion Jesus rebuked them with these words:

“(23) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. THESE YOU OUGHT TO HAVE DONE, WITHOUT NEGLECTING THE OTHERS. (24) You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!” ( Matthew 23:23-24 ESV)

As the early church began to grow, a problem arose where the needs of some Grecian widows were being overlooked. Yet the Apostles kept the most important things in mind while arranging for the other important needs to be met as well.

“(2) And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. (3) Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. (4) But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’” ( Acts 6:2-4 ESV)

So, rather than being set aside, the business of the Kingdom of God continued and ...

“… the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” ( Acts 6:7 ESV)

May we keep the PRIORITIES RIGHT. Let us not get so focused on a tool that we forget what the business is all about!

Have a great day BEING LIKE CHRIST -- “ABOUT THE FATHER’S BUSINESS.”
Carl
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[This focus was originally sent 10/14/1998 (Edited some with passages changed to ESV)]

See other teEn-MAIL on Priorities