Comedian Jeff Foxworthy has made a lot of laughter and a lot of money by poking fun at “redneck” culture. Often it’s the rednecks who laugh the loudest at his jokes, which is a healthy sign because people should laugh at themselves. What you might not know about Jeff Foxworthy is that he is a Christian and has often endorsed quality Christian ministry. Behind all the jokes is a man of faith, and this is evident in a book introduction he wrote that I read recently.
Foxworthy writes, “A hundred years from now, your great-grandchildren probably won’t even know your name. No one will care about what awards you won or how much money you made. The only thing that will matter is what kind of children you left behind and their influence on subsequent generations.”
Wow! The comedian is getting serious about what is truly important in life. These words encourage me to seek to invest my life for what will have a lasting impact. Jeff Foxworthy’s challenge reminds me of the classic poem of C.T. Studd who said,
Two little lines I heard one day, Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Traveling along life’s busy way; Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Bringing conviction to my heart, Only one life, yes, only one,
And from my mind would not depart; Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
As a teenager I remember writing the phrase “keep the main thing, the main thing”. I can say there has always been a “main thing” in my life, but I am disappointed to say it hasn’t always been Christ. I want to be like the Apostle Paul and echo his, “To live is Christ, to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21), and not be like Solomon who said, “Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:11)
Jeff Foxworthy is known to most of us as a comedian. To those he cares about the most, however, he is a godly father and a loving husband. He treasures one Father’s Day note he received from his teenage daughter. It said, “You and Mom have raised us in the best Christian home possible and show us your belief, devotion, and obedience to God every day through your actions and decisions.” Now that is a “celebrity” example worth following. I hope you, too, want to invest in the lives around you for that kind of payoff. As I contemplate these matters I strongly desire a living legacy that lasts. How about you? Take time to step back from the circus of activities you are involved in and ask, “Am I keeping the main thing, the main thing?”
In the Bible, James reminds us, “You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14) In this light, make the little you have been given count for eternity! The Apostle Paul says, “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:4)
We are on deployment in this life and should stay focused on the task the Commander has given us. A good solider doesn’t get caught up in civilian affairs because that’s not his business. Like Jesus, we need to be about our Father’s business and commit to investing in areas that will have a lasting pay-off. “You might be a living legacy if…”
In Christ,
Pastor Andrew Edmonds
