What’s your #1?
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6: 33
What’s your top priority in life? Right now. In this moment – this day, this week, this year. Okay, so how are you working toward it? Done your research? Got an action plan, a time line, a goal mapped out? Supplies and support to aid you along the way? How’s it coming? Have you paused to assess your progress lately? Looked around and taken stock of how far you’ve come or noted any adjustments that need to be made? Are there others on your “team” to encourage you, advise you, and promote accountability? You haven’t yet arrived, I know, it’s a journey, but are you closer today than you were yesterday? Even a little?
If we all wrote down our top priorities at this time in our lives do you think we’d get various answers? I’m wondering if maybe everybody’s #1 would be different. Not a single one the same as another. “My career change,” says one person. “Graduating – yes!” “Continuing my education or completing my higher degree,” reads the next. “The promotion, the raise, the management position I should have had how long ago.” “Making more money.” “A new vehicle.” “A new home.” “A new job – PLEASE.” “Definitely my health.” “Losing weight, ugh.” “Getting out of debt.” “Starting a business – growing my business.” “Healing my marriage.” “Finding someone to share my life with, where are you ?” “Adopting a child.” “Having more children.” “A long overdue vacation!” “Retiring…finally.” “Getting through chemo.” “A successful surgery.” “Surviving grief.” “Going into ministry.” ”Completing my dream…” and on and on the priorities go.
You know what though? I’m sitting here, reading through Matthew chapter six and it’s like God taking a red Sharpie and slowly, methodically crossing off the priorities on my list. .. { Do good to please Me, not men. Pray and approach life as My Son Jesus did, not in accordance with your own desires ‘n’ plans. Your “treasure” better be Me or it’s just gonna disintegrate anyway. Stay focused on The Light and your body, your spirit, your very being will be aglow in Me. You can’t serve Me and money or Me and your family or Me and your own way, one has to come first. Is your life not more than food, clothing, shelter, and the like? You worry and stress over these things like I don’t know what you need to live! Most importantly, seek first… ME. My kingdom, My righteousness. Put G O D first! }
Wow. Looks like everyone’s #1 should actually be the same. Now wouldn’t that be something?!
Another amazing post Melody, another great, and timely lesson to read and learn from. Perceived priorities in life so often cloud out what should be everybodies greatest priority in life – the worship and praise of our Lord. Shouldn’t all the other stuff take a backseat to our love and worship of God, since all that we have and ever will have come directly from Him anyway? You bet it should! Unfortunately, that is not the easiest thing to come to really understand for most people, and I am like most people in that regard. No matter how hard I work and how successful I become it really won’t matter if I do not have God as the number one priority in my life. It will be imaginary success and the fruits of that labor will not be lasting or meaningful, like fleeting happiness. He knows what I need and He knows what I want, and only through Him will I receive those blessings. I know from personal experience that when you do not place God first, you lose everything that you love and hold most dear, and there is no guarantee that you will ever get them back.
This post reminds me of a song I hear on the radio frequently. I only recently took ear to the words of the verses:
I wish I was more of a man
Have you ever felt that way
And if I had to tell you the truth
I’m afraid I’d have to say
That after all I’ve done and failed to do
I feel like less than I was meant to be
What if I could fix myself
Maybe then I could get free
I could try to be somebody else
Who’s much better off than me
But I need to remember this
That it’s when I’m at my weakest
I can clearly see
[that Jesus has always been there and should have been my #1]
The chorus goes on to ponder the question: I wonder what life would be like if we let Jesus live through you an me?
Easier said than done, right?
It hit home for me ~ how temporary this life is on earth AND what really matters. It’s so hard to lose that perspective when we’re trying to keep up with kids and bills and health, etc.
Thank you for the reminder, dear sister. You are right on.
Wonderful reminder. I love your writing, I love the way the Lord’s light shines through you, and I’m blessed that you are my little cousin/niece. God bless and protect you today. Your summary of Matthew 6 was good medicine for me.
How did you sneak into my house and steal my list of priorities?….You done called me out.