Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

Cathy delivered a brilliant message this week that was both simple and deeply challenging: “Keep the main thing the main thing.” This is a timely reminder in a world full of noise, pressure, and endless to-do lists – even in church life.

She opened with a story that made everyone smile: going shopping for something essential – like bin bags – and coming home with everything except the one thing you actually needed. There were offers, distractions, interesting extras… but somehow the thing you went in for never made it into the trolley.

It’s funny because we’ve all done it. But it also hits home. How easy is it to do the same thing in our walk with God? To fill our lives with good things – meaningful, even spiritual things – and yet forget what matters most. To forget the main thing.

Religious Distraction

Cathy walked us through Mark 12, where Jesus interacts with several religious groups – each of them, in different ways, misses the point.

• The Herodians were caught up in political influence.

• The Sadducees were focused on being right.

• The Pharisees were consumed with religious rule-keeping.

Each group thought they were serving God. But somewhere along the way, they had lost the heart of it all. They had forgotten why they started. Jesus responds by cutting through all the clutter:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. And love your neighbour as yourself. Mark 12:30–31

This is the centre. Love for God. Love for people. It's not just something to agree with in theory – but something to live out every day.

Not Just Knowing – Living

Many of us know these verses by heart. We’ve sung them, memorised them, taught them. But as Cathy reminded us, it’s one thing to know the main thing – another thing to live it. Because even in our best intentions – leading, serving, helping – it’s possible to forget why we’re doing it.

She shared that challenging verse from Isaiah:

“These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Matthew 15:8

It’s sobering – and it makes you pause. Where is my heart in all of this?

Practical Outworking – What It Looks Like

So what does it mean to keep the main thing the main thing in practice?

1. Let God’s Love Be the Starting Point

Cathy reminded us of 1 John 4:19 – “We love because He first loved us.” It doesn’t starts with us trying harder. It begins with receiving.

We can’t pour from an empty cup. If we aren’t regularly receiving God’s love, we’ll serve from pressure instead of overflow. God doesn’t ask us to earn His love – He calls us to rest in it, live from it, and respond to it.

2. Love God With Your Whole Self

Jesus says to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength – in other words, with your whole self.

• Your heart – your desires and affections

• Your soul – your identity and inner life

• Your mind – your attention and thoughts

• Your strength – your time, energy, and actions
  

Ask yourself: where is my love directed? What’s getting the best of me? Where have I perhaps held back?

3. Love People from the Overflow

Cathy brought us to 1 Corinthians 13, where Paul warns us that it’s possible to do all sorts of impressive, spiritual things – and still miss love. You can give, serve, teach, even be sacrificial – and it can still be just noise if the heart isn’t right.

She gave a few signs that we might be slipping into that:

• Resentment – “No one sees what I do.”

• Pride – “I’m doing better than they are.”

• Self-pity – “I’ve given so much and feel unnoticed.”

• Comparison – “Why them and not me?”

These aren’t reasons to feel ashamed – they’re invitations to draw close to God again and let Him renew our hearts. When we reconnect with His love, we can love others with joy, humility, and grace.

4. A Reordering of Priorities

Cathy closed by sharing the story of the widow in Mark 12 who gave two small copper coins. Others were giving large amounts, but Jesus noticed her. Not because of the amount, but because of the heart behind it.

That’s what God sees. That’s what matters. A heart that says, “All I have is yours.” That’s what it means to keep the main thing the main thing.

Where is love leading me today?

It could be a quiet moment with God, a phone call, a step of obedience, or a decision to let something go. But if it starts in love for God and ends in love for others, then we’re walking in the right direction.

Let’s not come home with everything but the bin bags. Let’s not miss the point. Let’s keep the main thing the main thing.

You can listen to Cathy’s sermon here:

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