“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” Stephen Covey, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.”

During my career in office administration, staff meetings at one organization included reading Stephen Covey’s book. It was a transforming time for me — his presentation of biblical principles compelled me to forsake my almost obsessive focus on tasks and to-do lists and accept the truth that relating with and caring for people was more important.

As I’ve continued in my faith journey, I’ve realized that, while important, that is not the Main Thing.  So, what is the Main Thing? 

The Main Thing cannot change…it is so important it must be what guides and guards every aspect of life. It must be an unchangeable, timeless truth. 

That, of course, is a strongly contested reality in our day and time. The loss of that belief explains why chaos, disorder, violence, hatred and evil are thriving. Everyone does what they believe is right for them. So clashes of opposing rights are inevitable. Everyone has their own perception of reality and living out that perception is their main thing.

When anyone’s main thing leaves out the truth that God — as He makes Himself known in the Bible -—exists and must be reckoned with, their main thing is not The Main Thing.

They miss the purpose of God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16), the reality of God’s love (John 3:16), and the consequences of disregarding His standard (James 1:13-15). They deny our great need for a Redeemer who lived a sin-free life on our behalf (Colossians 1:13-23), and the blessing of His Spirit to guide and comfort us (John 14:25-29). All that is the Main Thing and every individual must decide if they want that as their own Main Thing.

The Main Thing leaves us only two choices: love and serve God or love and serve His (and our) enemy, the devil/Satan, who fights against God, His Way and His people  (1 Peter 5:8-10; 1 John 3:7-8).

In the battle between God and evil, every time we decide what to think, believe, say or do we area choosing sides; because those decisions are based on what we value most. Individual decisions lead to personal godly or ungodly behavior; corporate decisions lead to large scale blessings or large scale oppression. My decision many years ago to value people more than tasks was a decision toward the Main Thing.

The chaos, disorder, violence, hatred and evil today are a clear representation of the system that opposes God and His Kingdom. It values deceit as a tool to obtain power, money and personal gratification.

The book of Galatians gives us a clear word picture of the differences (Galatians 5:18-24):

Opposed to God’s Way: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing and similar things.

In harmony with God’s Way: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Today 2 Timothy 2:24-25 helps me keep the Main Thing my Main Thing each day: A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the Truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the Truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. (2 Timothy 2:24-25 New Living Translation)

Which side are you serving, and why?

Victoria Van Couvering is part of the women’s discipleship team at Craig Christian Church and is co-leader of the Constitutional Citizenship Initiative. You can contact her at victoria_van_c@yahoo.com