Interesting or Important?

Like Ruth, you are making choices of what you will pay attention to. Many things that come to your mind are interesting. A few are important. How can you tell the difference?

Interesting things grab your attention. I wish I could have a puppy. Or, I can’t wait to go outside. Then, Who is on the phone? And, Look, there’s a spider on the ceiling! Soon your thoughts and ears and eyes are off in different directions. Watch out! Instead of helping you, these daydreams and distractions will lead you into trouble. Especially when you need to focus on more important things.

Important things are those that will prepare you for life. Maybe school work or chores aren’t very fun, but they give you skills and usefulness. Later, when someone needs your help to solve a problem or get work done, you are ready to be their hero! And it is the character skills of honesty, patience, and diligence that prepare you for more exciting things. Jesus said, “He that is faithful in least will be faithful also in much.”* (Luke 16:10) It was when Ruth showed that she could be faithful in her school work that she was ready for a puppy.

Even more important are the attitudes and values of your heart. I’m sure you want to be kind and good. Maybe you even want to love and serve God. But it doesn’t just happen. If you think about yourself first and ask God for things you want, you really love yourself most. What happens when tests and trials come? You won’t remember that God is the answer to your problems because you’re thinking about yourself. Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”* (Matthew 6:33) You see, you must first ask God to give you the right kind of heart—a heart that wants to serve and obey Him all the time. When you are God’s servant, then He is able to fill your life with joy and blessings. When God (not yourself) is most important then you will have the desires of your heart!

So what will you focus on today? Will it be interesting or important first? Don’t tell me—show me by what you do next.