Dear Friends,
The word “priority” has come to be a well used word in our language, applied in many areas of everyday life. It simply means that which is of greatest importance; that which has the preeminence; the top of the list; to be given attention first ahead of everything else. It is not a Biblical word but, if the writers of Scripture were writing today, they would quite possibly make good use of it because the principle of setting priorities is found throughout the Bible. There are many examples in Scripture of men and women of God setting their priorities in accordance with God’s instructions:-
ABRAHAM gave priority to God’s calling to a new land, even though he did not know where he was going! He became the father of many nations, his name is associated with the True and Living Creator God, and he is regarded as the father of faith. (Heb. 11:8-10)
JACOB gave priority to God’s blessing though it meant that he was crippled for the rest of his life! But he was blest beyond measure, given a new name meaning “having power with God,” and is also considered the father of God’s chosen nation, Israel. (Gen. 32:24-32)
JOSEPH gave priority to his moral integrity though he ended up spending years as a slave in a foreign country! He was later elevated from an Egyptian prison to the Egyptian throne, next to the Pharaoh himself. (Gen. 41:39-45)
MOSES “chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt.” He gave priority to the promised reward, and “endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible.” He was given the honor of leading God’s people out of slavery, to the Promised Land, and became the dispenser of God’s law which is still revered in many nations today. (Heb. 11:24-29)
ELISHA gave priority to obtaining the double portion of Elijah’s anointing which he so coveted, by following Elijah and never letting him out of his sight until he saw Elijah taken up into heaven, and Elijah’s mantle fell on him. He became one of the greatest prophets in Israel’s history, working twice as many miracles as his predecessor. (2 Kings 2:1-15)
DANIEL and his friends resolved not to defile themselves with the heathen king’s meat, or bow to his idol, giving absolute priority to God’s laws even at the risk of death. Daniel also gave priority to regular communion with God, though it meant a night in the lions’ den! He was made Prime Minister, and favored by both Babylonian and Persian kings under whom he lived a long and noble life. (Dan. 1:8-21; 6:28)
These people had their priorities in order, and God blest them beyond measure.
The passage that set me to thinking about priorities is found in Matthew 6:31-33. Having referred to God’s care of the birds of the air, and the lilies of the field, Jesus tells us to be not anxious about what we will eat, or what we will drink, or what we will wear, for our Heavenly Father knows that we have need of all these things. “But SEEK FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto (us).” In other words, we are to give priority to Spiritual things, things concerning the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, things that concern our personal relationship with Him, and He will take care of our material needs.
The news media is filled these days with reports from the Beijing Olympics, and the incredible achievements of the participating athletes. These Olympic athletes know what it means to give priority to their chosen sport. Paul used the analogy in his letter to the Corinthian Church: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? So run in order that you may obtain (that prize). And every one who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things.” They go into strict training. I once read the story of Ekaterina Gordeeva who started training as a skater at the age of four; when she was eleven she was paired with Sergei Mikhailovich whom she later married. The pair won the gold medal at the Olympics in Calgary, and a second one in Lillehammer, Norway. They won the prizes because they put their skating priority first, before everything else. They literally gave themselves to skating. “Now,” Paul says, “they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but WE AN INCORRUPTIBLE.” (1 Cor. 9)
The exhortation to us, as to Timothy, is “Give diligence (priority) to present yourselves approved to God…” That means, putting CHRIST FIRST in everything that concerns us – giving priority to His Will and His Word and His Commands…
–In the Church: loving one another, by love serving one another, and submitting one to another in the fear of God; (John 15:12; Gal. 5:13; Eph. 5:21);
–In our Marriages: recognizing the Headship of Christ with a relationship patterned after that of Christ and His Church; (Eph. 5:23)
–In our Families: Instructions are given to both parents and children: “…and these words…you shall teach diligently to your children…” (Deut. 6:7; Eph. 6:1-4);
–In our Employment: with Him as our Chief Executive Officer, conducting our business with diligence and integrity; (Col. 3:22; 4:1)
–In all of our activities: “whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord…for you serve the Lord Christ.” “…that in all things He (Christ) might have the preeminence.” “…and this HOPE never disappoints, because God’s love for us floods our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.” (Col. 3:23,24; Col.1:18; Rom. 5:5)
“Now the God of all HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE in the believing,
that you may abound in HOPE
through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 15:13)
In Agape, Eulene
