Introduction

Jesus words confront us with the ultimate challenge: to choose God's priorities in our life, whatever the cost. As well as a personal measure of how well we make our choices, this is a principle we can use to evaluate global events.

 

This week's news

There's an increase in the number of people earning below the living wage in Britain - 25% of women and 15% of men

 
Poet Seamus Heaney's last words are ‘Do not be afraid’.

 
The Ohio kidnapper, Ariel Castro  is found hanging in his cell.

 
With 2 million Syrian refugees waiting to see what the world will do, Yazen Abdullah from the Syrian ministry of information says that if the Syrian people wish it, Assad must go.
www.channel4.com/news/syria-president-assad-information-ministry-yazen-abdullah
 
Academy schools increase segregation between rich and poor.

Reflection

On the face of it, Jesus’ challenge is a harsh one. Does he really mean we should turn our backs on our families and everyone who loves us? Perhaps the question we should answer is ‘what will I do with my life?’ Approaching death, people often reflect on how they have responded to that question. Seamus Heaney's last words were, typically, an encouragement to the faint-hearted: do not be afraid. Jesus challenge maybe shocking, but God is with us, we need not fear.
 
Bob Marley's last words to his son Ziggy are reported to be ‘money can't buy life’. When Gareth Bale is transferred for 86 million, and 4.8 million workers in Britain earn below the living wage, we are faced with a modern enigma. In a post-industrial society, money is needed to buy the essentials of life; but for increasing numbers of people, not even that is achievable, while others have much more than they need. Clearly we can't measure life’s value with money. So what value do we put on money and possessions?
 
If we love our families, and they love us, we may resist Jesus' exhortation to hate them. If, like the 65,000 young people in care, our family experience has been difficult in some way, we may find it easier. Michelle Knight, one of the victims kidnapped and abused by Ariel Castro, told him in court: ‘I will not let you define me’. Whether our families are loving, neglectful or abusive, God's priorities, not theirs, should define our lives.
 
What does this mean in the arena of global politics? Russia, the USA and Britain will be influential in the world's response to the crisis in Syria. With so many Syrian's voting with their feet, the people's urgent desire for change seems clear. How can other nations follow God's priorities as they weigh up how to intervene?
 
For me, one way of putting God first is to try to change injustice in our world, whatever the consequence for me or my family. In the 1980s, I worked with ANC activists and black South African artists banned from working in South Africa under apartheid. They radically changed my understanding of this passage. I learnt, from mothers who had lost their sons to the struggle, not to view this as a personal tragedy but as a glorious achievement for the community. It was the idea of life as a possession I had to let go of. In that letting go, as Jesus promises, my life is given back to me full beyond measure.
 

Prayer

This prayer helps us reflect on our priorities. This could be used in public or private worship and is easily adapted for all ages.If possible, gather a collection of objects that represent the people and/or things that we value in life. Or ask everyone to write or draw them on slips of paper, or just imagine them. Have an empty bag or bucket to put them in. Also have a container of small crosses (could just be paper shapes), enough for everyone.
 
Pray:
Lord, we bring to you the clutter of our lives,
the people, places and posessions that we hang on to.
Help us to let go.
 
Symbolically let go of possessions by putting them in the empty container.
 
Pray:
Lord, we choose life your way.
Help us to pick up our cross and follow you.
 
Pick up a small cross as a sign of commitment to discipleship.
 

Questions

• What are the things you value most in your life?
• What holds you back from following Jesus?
• What do you need to let go of?
• What has following Jesus cost you?

Action

One way of evaluating whether we have our priorities right is to imagine we are at the end of our life, looking back on it. Try the exercise of writing your own obituary as though you have lived your life the best you can be.
 

Young People

Draw a large circle and divide it into seven sections. Each section represents one day in a typical week. Write and draw in each section to indicate how you prioritise your time e.g. study, personal care, socialising, shopping, praying, serving others.... Reflect on what this says about what you value most in life and whether you have your priorities right.
 
The obituary activity works well with young people too.
 

Jane Chevous is an educator and Director of Reshapers CIC, a creative learning company. 

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