The amount of things in your life that you think really matter is much bigger than it really is.  We think everything matters.

The reality is your matters list is bigger and ever expanding.  Here’s a short list.

Work matters, overtime matters, advancing in the company matters, Your boss’s opinion matters, your co-workers opinion matters, staying connected via email matters, answering texts and phone calls in a timely fashion matters, staying close to work even on your off day matters.

Your house matters. How it’s decorated matters. How it’s landscaped matters.  The condition of the garage matters.  The cleanliness of your closets matters.   New stainless steel fixtures matter.  Granite countertops matter.  

Fashion matters.  Your clothes matter.  Your shoes matter.  Your hair style matters.  Your make up matters.  Being up to date matters.  

Your kids matter.  Their soccer skills matter.  Their voice lessons matter.  Their schooling matters.  Their college education matters.  Their nutrition matters.    Their dental hygiene matters.  How straight their teeth are matters. Volunteering at their school matters.  Going on their field trip matters.

Your car matters.  Your house matters.  Your career matters.  Your physical fitness matters.  Your fashion matters.  Your finances matter.  Your kids matter.  Your marriage matters.  Your church matters.  Everything matters.  Everything has meaning. 

If everything  matters and everything defines you it’s no wonder you’re exhausted.  

As you were reading that list of things that matter I’m guessing some of you had this experience.  There where items that you read that you agreed that you didn’t need.  There were things you could stop pursuing and it would simplify your life.  However, there were other things on that list where you thought to yourself, “That matters.  I need to pursue that.”  You know what, you are right.  Your marriage matters and your kids matter and your work matters.  They do matter.  But you had better decide what matters most.  Let me give you one last thought.  Jesus is always the final word and this is what he says really matters.

Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31-33

Again, Jesus echoes an issue that is as old as time.  Running.  Running after food.  Running after drink.  Running after what to wear.  We are not the only culture to find ourselves running, we are just the latest.

Jesus solution to our matters list is this. 

It’s not that all these things don’t matter, but you have to figure out what matters most. 

Jesus says that if you pursue God, He will make you a deal. He will throw in all the rest.  Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.