January 8, 2009

Keeping Your Priorities Straight

For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your [company] for a while. But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:22-29 NKJV)

Paul longed to see the believers at Rome but he explains his difficulty in coming to them.

Hitherto he hath excused his manner of writing, now he makes an apology for his not coming unto them. They at Rome might be ready to say: If he had travelled into so many countries, why could he not all this while give us a visit? To this he answers, it was not from any want of respect or good will to them, but for another cause, which he had already assigned, and that was, the preaching of Christ where he had not been named; for this cause, he says, he had been much hindered: he looked upon that as the more necessary work; the planting of churches is more than the watering of them. He told them, #Ro 1:13, of his being hindered from coming to them, and now he acquaints them more particularly with the reason, which he concealed before—Matthew Poole.

Paul kept his priorities straight. There are times when attractive ventures entice the soul. However, not all work carries the same importance. For Paul, he knew that his priority was to preach where others had not. Staying faithful to that calling, cost him the joy of being with the Romans.

However, he says at the end of verse 29, when he does come, “I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ.” Here is a lesson to remember: God’s timing is always perfect.

This does not mean that all paths will be easy to walk. We know that Paul, when in Rome, was under house arrest (Acts 28:16-31). Was this with God’s full blessing? Truly it was, for the Gospel was proclaimed without hindrance albeit from a house prison. Paul busied himself in Rome with, “Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.” (Acts 28:31 NKJV)

Therefore, ask yourself with what I am to be busy. Is there a ministry you have not fulfilled because other, less important things have captivated you? This is not an attempt to place you in bondage to some activity. It is simply a call for you to evaluate your priorities. Are you doing what God wants you to do right now?