What is Essential?
I’ve shared some thoughts before about certain things being labeled as “nonessential.” Most of the time, the distinction between essential and nonessential has to do with severe weather, some sort of disaster, threat to our security, or other similar things. Only “essential” employees are asked to continue to work during these times.
However, as individuals and governments are currently trying to deal with the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, other matters are under consideration. Entire industries, services, businesses, etc. are being labelled as either “essential” or “nonessential.”
There has not been any kind of uniformity and/or agreement concerning how those terms should be used. The disagreements and debates continue and rules differ on almost any level one can imagine. From the international level to the interpersonal level, it is difficult, if not impossible, to find any uniformity of thought or practice.
Along with this, many have noticed what seem to be glaring inconsistencies in policies and practices. It is often the case that one does not need to travel from place to place to find inconsistencies. It is not unusual to find them in the set of rules or regulations for one particular state or municipal area.
Multiple examples of this could be cited, but I will limit this to one of the most glaring examples of what I consider to be one of the most horrible ones. In some locations, a woman (or a man for that matter) cannot go to a hairdresser or a barber shop in order to have a little bit of unwanted hair removed from her (or his) head. At the same time and in those same locations, a woman is allowed to go to an abortion clinic in order to have an unwanted, but living, human being removed from her body.
I’m wondering if we might use this time when things have slowed down for most of us to give some consideration to what is truly essential. Many have discovered that running from one appointment, social event, shopping trip, ballgame, etc. to another might not be as essential as true quality time with loved ones. We may have discovered that the “gadget” that would sooner or later wear out or become obsolete, the “dream vacation trip” that would soon be over, or a host of other things are not nearly as important as what my mother-in-law used to call “making memories.”
I’m kind of a “boil it down” kind of person. Sometimes, I have difficulty in understanding intricate and involved concepts until somebody can “boil it down” to a level I can understand.
I’ve never claimed to be a great (or even mediocre) theologian. You’ll need to consult somebody else if you want to know some of the intricate details about the Bible. At the same time, I do think I have somewhat of a handle on what God considers as essential.
There are over six hundred commandments in The Old Testament. You may remember that Jesus was once asked about which of them was the greatest. You may also remember that He “boiled it down” when He said:
…You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.
(Matthew 22:37-40)
Those of us who read about Solomon cannot begin to imagine the kind of experiences, fame, wealth, etc. that he had during his life. He writes about much of that in the book of Ecclesiastes.
That makes what he wrote in the next-to-last verse of that book very interesting and challenging to me.
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Eccl. 12:13)
What is your definition of “essential?”
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AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
