Counting What Really Counts
Someone could accurately describe us knowing only what we count. What we count and why reveal our priorities.
Our priorities also disclose our spiritual maturity. As we become more like Jesus, we increasingly count what God counts because we value what He does. For example, God values lost people (Luke 15).
In elementary and secondary schools, I counted the number of days until another school year was over. The last day’s joy rivaled Christmas. Going to school wasn’t among my favorite things.
I enjoy gardening and processing and freezing vegetables for the winter. I know how many packs of various vegetables we’ve frozen since 2017.
I enjoy fishing. I count how many fish I catch on every fishing trip. I also keep track of the biggest fish I catch.
I enjoy coaching. I count the days until track and field season begins at the local high school where I coach. I know how many medals my throwers’ have won in track and field state championships.
When I was an active pastor, I recorded worship attendance, Sunday school attendance, and other church statistics. They were part of my annual report to my denomination. Their leaders used them to gauge the health of churches. Everything we count isn’t equally important.
Pastor Chuck Swindoll wrote, “Do you realize there are only two eternal things on earth today? Only two: people and God's Word. Everything else will ultimately be burned up—everything else. Kind of sets your priorities straight, doesn't it?”1
It’s okay to tally things in the “everything else” column, but it’s vital to count what really counts. How many people are coming into God’s Kingdom and becoming more like Jesus through our influence? That’s often difficult to measure, but we must try. How are we and our church using our God-given resources to lovingly serve people?
How are we connecting them with God’s Word which can bring them spiritual life (1 Peter 1:23) and growth (1 Peter 2:2)? That’s easier to measure.
Pastors in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia are teaching the basics of the Christian faith and seeing people come to faith and grow up in Christ. They do it through classes that include 132 hours of instruction over a four-week period working through “His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength.”
As of October 23, 2023, these classes had touched 2,140 people in the last several years. These pastors also provided Bibles for more than 1,100 of them through generous donors in the United States.
These pastors and donors are counting what really counts. We may count the days of school remaining and fish caught if we wish. But let’s not forget to count what God counts. Let’s connect people to God, His ways, and His Word. That’s what really counts. #freechristiandiscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources
1. What Lasts Forever? Only Two Things (insight.org)
See free spiritual growth resources for Christians at https://www.christiangrowthresources.com
God has equipped and empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free devotional discipleship resource. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 2,140 people to date. I invite you to check it out. https://www.christiangrowthresources.com/his-power-for-your-weakness