What is your “have to?”

When I was a youth pastor, I had Student Leaders running the ministry come and tell me they “have to” be at somewhere else and thus they couldn’t make the church function. These are the leaders that had all committed to put the ministry first, at least for the duration of their service (I didn’t expect of this from all students. Only those who have committed to do so) But each time a conflict in schedule came up, they’d tell me they “had to” be elsewhere.

So, I asked them one day, “What makes it a ‘have to” for you? Why do you think it is something that you ‘have to’ attend to?” Isn’t it a matter of priority?” What they were really saying was that whatever they felt they “had to” go to, took priority over whatever else they were missing. In their minds, school functions or family functions were “have to’s,” but a ministry function an option. Their order of priority was shown by what they considered “have to’s.”

So, I am asking you what your “have to’s” are. If you feel you “have to” go to work everyday, but you can miss your daily time with God, what does it say? If you feel you “have to” be at every family function, but not at church function, what does it say? Now, please understand that I’m not saying that every Christian’s priority should be attending church service and its every function. But I AM saying that every Christian’s priority should be “seeking the kingdom of God and all His righteousness.” (Matt 6:33)

What does that look like for you? How would your “have to’s” change if you were to seek His kingdom first?

Sin is disordered love. – St. Augustine. What do your “have to’s” say about your love?