Here's the question: "What is the most important thing in the world to you?"

(Pause for a minute. Get your answer firmly in mind. Come on - play the game right! Seriously decide what is the most important thing in the world to you before you move on.. Got it?. Now proceed.)

What did you answer? Your husband or wife? Some special other? Your children? Family in general? Friends?

Your home? Job? Television? Car? Lawnmower?

I don't want to belittle your answer, whatever it is. But I do want to say that all of the above answers are insufficient. Not one of those answers has any meaning without God. There is no love, no safety, no real delight in family, friends, or possessions without the work of God in our world and in our lives.

There is no life without the source of life.

Some years ago comic Richard Pryor set himself on fire while free - basing cocaine. He ran outside and down the street, his clothes ablaze. When he got out of the hospital he said he had discovered something: "You don't call your banker or your lawyer for help. You call on God - or the Son of God - or the Mother of God - or anyone you can think of who is related to God!"

Sometimes life forces us to get our priorities right. Illness, the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, the loss breakup of a marriage - these things can remind us that we cannot live without that help that comes from God and God alone.

But why wait for times of sorrow to begin living the truth? The lie that we live without God is a waste of precious time.

And a waste of life itself.

We are beginning a new year - a reminder that time is passing. Don't waste any more of it. Don't set God aside until the next sorrow comes.

Drop the lame excuses you've made for not going to church. Drop the pretense that all is well. Drop the hopeless effort to create the meaning of your life, there is no meaning - and no security - outside of God's love.

And one more thing - be in church somewhere this Sunday.