A little over a year ago, I wrote about the importance of subtraction and mentioned a church that proudly proclaimed, “We are trying to reach minorities! It’s one of our 14 priorities!” How can you keep adding to your priorities until you get up to 14?

As we proceed through Advent and think about the life of Jesus, we must remember that Jesus didn’t come to be “added in” to an already crowded life. He came to replace our priorities not add to them:

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14.26, 27, ESV)

I wouldn’t have thought of this except an organization I respect has just told its staff, “We have highlighted about a dozen aspects of [our mission and values] for special attention…” I just don’t know how one can give special attention to a dozen things.

One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way. (Philippians 3.13 – 15, ESV)