When Jesus Becomes the Centre of Everything
Rev. Aniekan "Mbomboyo" Okokon ·
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. — Philippians 3:8
A centre is not the most important thing on a list. It is the point around which the whole list arranges itself. When Jesus moves from the top of your priorities to the centre of your life, the priorities do not just reorder; they change shape, because each of them is now defined by its relationship to Him.
What it does to a schedule
Time stops being divided into sacred and secular. Prayer is not the religious hour; it is the breath of the day. Work is not the secular part; it is service to Him. Rest is not laziness; it is trust. A Christ-centred calendar may look ordinary from outside. From inside, every hour has the same Lord.
What it does to money
Money stops being the measure of security. It becomes a tool in the hand of a steward, to be earned honestly, given generously, spent gratefully and held loosely. Seek first the kingdom, Jesus said, and the rest will be added - not as a bargain but as a description of how a centred life works.
What it does to relationships
A marriage with Christ at the centre has two people facing Him rather than only each other, and the closer each draws to Him, the closer they draw to one another. Friendships lose their scorekeeping. Enemies become people He died for. Family becomes a place to serve, not a place to be served.
What it does to a church
- Programmes are measured by whether they reveal Him, not by whether they draw a crowd.
- Leaders are followed as they follow Him, and no further.
- Preaching aims at His glory, not the preacher's.
- Money serves His mission, not the building's.
The cost, and why it is no cost
Paul counted everything as loss - his pedigree, his achievements, his reputation - for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. It sounds like a great sacrifice until you read the next words: "that I may gain Christ." He did not give up treasure for a Person. He gave up trinkets for the Treasure. When Jesus becomes the centre of everything, nothing of value is lost. Everything of value is finally found where it belongs.