Pastor's Ponderings, November 10, 2014

What’s On Your Bucket List?

A cancer patient, Brittany Maynard recently made headlines when she decided to end her life after completing the last item on her bucket list, which was to visit the Grand Canyon. The term “bucket list” was popularized by the movie Bucket List where two men who were terminally ill decided to complete a list of things that were important to them before they died.

Many of us have different things that we want to do from the mundane to the fanciful: finally cleaning out the garage, climbing Mount Everest, or even visiting the moon. I also think about the things that I want to make certain that I get done. I’d like to get another degree, run a two-hour half marathon, introduce Jesus to more people, and write a history of our family among other things. But what should really be on our list before we leave the earth?

In the book of Ecclesiastes, it says that our main duty is to keep God’s commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13).  What are God’s commandments?  When Jesus was asked this question, He answered that we should live our lives loving the Lord God most of all and loving our neighbors just like we love ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39).  In another passage, the Bible goes on to say that we simply must be merciful and just with one and another and to humble ourselves or submit to God (Micah 6:8).

I know that many of us have our bucket list of things that we want to do before we pass into eternity, but I believe that it is most important that we know what God wants us to do.  Getting that next degree, writing that book, starting that business, getting married or having children are important things to do but pleasing God is most important.  In the end, when we have completed His list, He can say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

Let us be certain that we complete His most important items on our bucket list.

Ecclesiastes 12:13
New International Version (NIV)

13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

Matthew 22:37-39
New International Version (NIV)

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Micah 6:8
New International Version (NIV)

8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Matthew 25:21
King James Version (KJV)

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.