Many of us make a list of things we need to do in a day or a week. And then we prioritize the things on the list to make sure we completer our priorities. Otherwise, we are prone to fill our day with important but not essential things. And by the time the day has ended, we may have neglected our priorities. In the scriptures we see what the Lord’s priorities are for our lives.
Keep the first commandment first – Mk 12:30. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Of all things in our lives, our highest priority is our love for God. The church of Ephesus had left their first love, Rev 2:4, and yet they were a good church with good works, Rev 2:2-5. We can’t ever allow our works to take priority over our love for the Lord.
Seek the Kingdom of God first – Matt 6:33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Our days are filled with thoughts of food, raiment and mammon. These become our principle concerns. The Lord tells us to seek his kingdom and righteousness rather than these things. He said that when we do, these things will be added to us. In other words, you don’t neglect these things, but they are no longer your principle concern; he is!
Give yourself to the Lord first – 2 Cor 8:5. People often speak of getting saved as giving their hearts to the Lord. Salvation is receiving the gift of Jesus Christ and his eternal life. After we receive him, then we can give our hearts to him. When it comes to giving, give yourself first. People who do this never have trouble giving their money to the Lord.
Cleanse the inside first – Matt 23:26. “cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of the may be clean also”. The trouble with hypocrites is that they clean the outside first and never clean the inside. According to Matt 23:25-28, they are as beautiful as a veterans cemetery on the outside and full of hypocrisy and iniquity on the inside. Always deal with sin from the inside out. The outside will be clean when the inside is first clean.
Be a servant of all first – Mk 9:35. “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all and servant of all”. Those of us who are competitive play to win. We want to be first; we want to be the best. When you want to be first among those serving Christ, be sure to be last of all and servant of all.
Conclusion: When you do these things, you will be certain that you are at least tending to the priorities that the Lord has spelled out for your life. Don’t neglect these five things by becoming so involved in other things. Do a review of your life and see if you are getting better at these five things or if you are letting them slip. Get back on track if other things have become more of a priority than these.