What Do You Really Love?

Last week, I heard a 97-year-old woman speak at a widow/widower banquet.

She said something that was funny—but it stuck with me:

“People who show up on Sunday mornings love the pastor.

People who show up on Sunday nights love the church.

But the people who show up on Wednesday nights… love Jesus.”

Everyone laughed.

But the longer I’ve thought about it, the more I realized—there’s something deeper underneath that statement.

Because it raises an important question:

What do we really love?

It’s easy to build rhythms around what’s convenient. Sunday mornings fit. They’re expected. They’re part of the routine. But as the week goes on, priorities begin to compete. Schedules fill up. Energy runs low. And what was once a priority can quietly become optional. This isn’t about attendance. It’s about affection.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Our priorities reveal our affections. Not what we say we love—but what we actually give our time, attention, and energy to.

That’s true for everyone. Not just leaders. Not just pastors. All of us. It’s possible to appreciate a pastor. To enjoy a church. To value community. But still struggle to prioritize a personal relationship with Jesus.

That’s the tension. Because following Jesus was never meant to fit neatly into what’s left over. It was always meant to shape everything. Not just Sunday. Not just when it’s convenient. Not just when we feel like it. Daily.

Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” That kind of following requires intentionality. It requires sacrifice. It requires reordered priorities.

And that’s where this simple statement hits home. Not because Wednesday night is the standard. But because it exposes what we prioritize. For some, it may be church involvement.For others, it may be time in the Word.For others, it may be consistent prayer or discipleship.

The question isn’t, “Do I attend everything?”

The question is: Is Jesus actually first?

Because when He is, it shows up. In how we spend our time. In what we protect on our calendar. In what we say yes to—and what we’re willing to say no to. This isn’t about guilt. It’s about alignment. Jesus doesn’t ask for leftovers. He calls for first place.

So maybe the better question today isn’t about Sunday, Sunday night, or Wednesday night.

It’s simply this:

If someone looked at my life, what would they say I truly love?

Reflection Question

What do my current priorities reveal about where Jesus truly ranks in my life?