One thing I learned a long time ago is that everyone has time for what is most important to them. I know we occasionally say things like, “I just don’t have time for _________ like other people do.” But if we thought about it, we’d realize that’s not quite true. It’s not like some of us have 8-day weeks and others of us have 6-day weeks. We all have the same amount of time, the same 24 hours in all of our days. The thing is, some of us just find certain activities to be more worth our time than others.

One time when I was 19 or 20 years old, I went on a date or two with a particular girl. Well, eventually I broke it off with her, and I can still remember part of the conversation. I told her that my life was really busy and that I didn’t really have “time” to be dating. Well, she responded with something insightful. She said, “Everyone has time for the things that are important to them. It’s not that you don’t have time for me. It’s that you don’t really like me.”

Well, you know what? She was right. I mean, I didn’t dislike her in the general sense. She was a nice girl. But I didn’t want to have a romantic relationship with her. And that’s why I couldn’t find the time. Later that same year, when I started dating a girl named Heidi, amazingly, I found time! But that girl taught me something very useful, “Everyone has time for the things that are important to them.”

What does all of this have to do with church? Good question. I am leading up to asking you to make “time” for your church. When it comes to volunteering, small group attendance, or church service attendance, make your church a priority. Especially when you consider that the church is one of the things that God has appointed you to be a part of when you trust in Him. So, this year, try to miss as few gatherings as possible. Set aside time to help out and serve. You can do it if you really want to. It may feel like you don’t have the time. And it will be easy to believe, at times, that what you are feeling is true. But just remember this, “Everyone has time for the things that are important to them.” I hope this article serves as a helpful encouragement and reminder...