What Matters to You More Than Anything?

The View From Above: Thoughts To Help With Everyday Life

September 14, 2026

Pastor Paul Stephens

What Matters to You More Than Anything?

A simple but very deep and profound question.

The answer will define what kind of a person you are.

I think as you grow, develop, and mature, it will change. The things that matter to me now may not have been so important earlier in life.

When we’re young, we tend to be fairly self-focused. My career, my future, my calling, my ministry, etc. Sometimes it’s the accumulating of money and material possessions.

We can easily prioritize things that really don’t ultimately matter all that much.

Of course, some of the above are very good things that should matter.

I think when it comes to what should matter most, we should stick to what Jesus said. He states it in the form of the two most important commandments that we should align our lives with:

First,

Mark 12:30

“And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.”

That is a full-time, all-day, every-minute occupation.

Is it easy?…No!

It’s very challenging and hard to love God because of our flesh, our carnal nature, which we all have to constantly overcome.

Loving God means obeying His commandments…that is what He said:

John 14:15

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

That’s a tall order, a very tall order.

It’s our responsibility to demonstrate our love for God through obedience and a willingness to do all we can to please Him.

Anyone can say they love God, but are you demonstrating that love in your actions and obedience?

Find out what God wants for your life; it’s there in His Word. You’ll discover it in prayer and in church at the altar through a message that God reveals His will for your life.

The second most important commandment after the first:

Mark 12:31

“And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

That sums up the things that I value most in life…loving Jesus and loving people.

God has blessed me with the most incredible relationships in my life.

Beginning with my wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Then, of course, pastors and leaders who cover and speak into my life.

There are close friends and colleagues that bring such joy, wholeness, and fulfillment.

Then there is the church…always the church.

The people that I have the honor and privilege of pastoring.

It is because of them, combined with my relationship with Jesus, that makes me the person I am becoming.

I love them in a very special way.

I pray that my ability to care for God’s flock increases and continually grows.

So, that would be my answer to the above question:

What matters to you more than anything?

Loving God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength…and loving, appreciating, valuing, and serving people.

I think if we all prioritize those two things, as they say,

THE REST WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF!