What do you tend to take seriously?
Do you take seriously the total number of COVID-19 deaths? Do you take seriously the danger of unrestrained “executive orders,” whether signed by a Republican or a Democrat? Do you take seriously the gargantuan administrative state? Do you take climate change seriously? Do you take seriously that status of your retirement account, fantasy football standings, or the report of your bathroom scales every morning?
If you claim Jesus Christ, there is something you should take seriously before any of these things. You might even take it more seriously than any of these things.
The Apostle Paul says that believers should “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12-13).
Fear and trembling does not have much cultural cachet these days, because the last thing self-respecting and intentionally-authentic awakened humans desire is to be so regressively un-bold. We are — as the world would have us believe — bold, confident, independent. Fear and trembling is so, well, weak.
But Paul wants us to remember that is not our relative strength or weakness that is important, but the strength of God. In fact, the reason we work (labor, power) is because “God is at work in you, to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Take seriously your salvation, because it is God who has called you to it, and has begun the work (Philippians 1:6). Take it seriously, because God will complete it (Philippians 1:6). Take your sanctification (growth in holiness) by “working it out” because God is at work.
Take seriously your salvation and sanctification, then take a new look at those other “important” things.