What Matters II

Pastor Daniel Mugeni

Each year, First Cause sends a Christmas gift to someone on our international team. This year, our gift went to Daniel and Aidda in Iganga, Uganda. Daniel wrote, “You have served my entire family of 30 members with Christmas. I have 26 needy orphans living with me, plus my four kids.” We did not realize that Daniel and Aidda were caring for 26 kids. Like our brother, Joseph, who pastors in Eldoret, Kenya, they do not just pastor needy families; they live by a daily faith that is stretched often beyond what seems possible.            
 

Meditation
Lamentations 5:1-5--Yahweh, remember what has happened to us. Look, and see our disgrace! Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners. We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are widows. We must pay for the water we drink; our wood comes at a price. We are closely pursued; we are tired, and no one offers us rest.
 
If you travel outside of the United States, it quickly becomes evident how blessed we are in this nation. We have abundant natural resources. We have easy access to information, transportation, and plenty of agencies and churches willing to assist those who are struggling. But with provision comes responsibility, as well as understanding and appreciation for what matters.
            
Millions of our fellow believers suffer dearly just for daring to follow Jesus. They live as Jeremiah described in the passage above. Yet do we pray for them? Do we raise our voices in outrage when they are massacred? Do we sacrifice our ample resources to help lessen their pain and further their ministries? Do we care?
            
Consider how divided the church is. We quarrel over musical styles and minor doctrinal positions, and we refuse to unite. Is this what matters? We amass fortunes that cannot and will not follow us when we die. Is this what matters? We retire to enjoy “the good life” because we have earned it and deserve to be happy. Is this what matters? We cut all contact and refuse to reconcile with other family members because they offended us. Is this what matters?  We have replaced worship with addictions and devotion with dereliction.
            
As Daniel and Joseph remind us, what matters is to follow James’ instruction, “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (1:27). What matters is loving, listening to and obeying God, dying to ourselves so we can live for what counts, and encouraging each other to run well. 
            
Finally, what matters is to “make every effort” as described by Jesus in Luke 13:24, by Paul in Philippians 3:12, and Hebrews 4:11, and by Peter in 2 Peter 1:5,10, and 3:14. Make every effort to read those verses and do what they ask. The days are growing short. By God’s grace, we can do this!  
 
Inspiration
“The man who knows that God is at the end of the road will make all life a preparation to meet Him.”—William Barclay

©2025 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  To receive these devotionals, go to www.firstcause.org and click the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)