KEEPING OUR PRIORITIES RIGHT
Matthew 6:33
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
With an intent gaze, I looked past the logs, past the sparks that flew heavenward… deer into the bowels of the campfire. I had spent many nights considering the complexities of life on nights like this and I hope to spend many more. No matter how many times I search for the answers, it all came back to the same answers.
I like to camp with family and friends. Don't get the wrong picture of "camping". My tent camping days are long gone and I now enjoy what is referred to as "glamping". I guess I can call it camping because I love to sit around the campfire with friends and relax.
On one of the inside walls of my camper are stickers that say "faith, family, & friends". This week while we were camping with the grandkids, these three words jumped out at me like they never had before. Those words got me thinking about priorities in the life of a Christian. The Bible is clear on what order our priorities should be. God and striving to live in His will for us should be our first priority. Matthew 6:33 tells us; "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." This command also means that God must have preeminence in our lives and this includes over family and friends.
Matthew 10:37 states;
"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." These are the words of Jesus when he sent out the 12 Apostles into the world to spread the gospel.
Sometimes it's easy to get our priorities in the wrong order. It is also clear that we are commanded to love and serve others before ourselves. I can't find anywhere where we should put ourselves ahead of God, family, or friends. In Mark 12: 30-31, Jesus was questioned by the scribes about which was the greatest commandment and Jesus replied;
"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
While the Bible does not provide a detailed blueprint for every situation, it offers principles that guide believers in balancing their priorities. By seeking God's kingdom first, maintaining a spiritual focus, fulfilling family and work responsibilities, loving and serving others, Christians can navigate the complexities of life in a manner that honors God and reflects His order. Where are your priorities?
Ecclesiastes 12:13
"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man".
Written by Tim Jones, God’s Great Outdoors – Board Chair
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