Priorities in Life

Bill Petite                                                                                                                     October 1 2017

If you were to ask anyone on the street what the priorities of their life is, you would probably get a variety of answers. Some would say their job or career comes first, others might say their families while others could produce a long list of material possessions as the priority of the life.

As a Christian, my list of priorities is much different than those who are not Christians. I remember a fellow worker years ago telling me that the entire purpose of his employment was to gain material possessions. In his words, "That's what it's all about."

Yet, others have placed their patriotism and love of country at the top of their list. There are a number of people who don't even think or consider what might be a priority in their life. They bumble along and bounce from one news cycle to the next, jumping from one issue to another or whatever strikes them as important at that specific moment.

There are even Christians who might have confused their priorities from one day of the week to the next. On Sunday morning, the priority is attending church and checking the box. On Monday it might be their career or job. But the Bible is clear who is to be the top priority in our Christian lives, 

 You must not have any other god but me.

You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.  You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.  EX 20:3-5

 We serve a God who demands all of our worship, our attention and must be first in our lives. The world of those who don't know Jesus Christ as Lord and savior of their lives will not adhere to this because it is meaningless to them. But, for those of us who are saved and walking with Jesus through this life, He should be our top priority in this life on earth. Even those who are yet immature in their spiritual growth might not understand this. It's simple; Jesus put Himself on the cross to die in our place in order to satisfy the debt required for our sin. If Jesus doesn't do this, we are doomed to eternal condemnation and destruction. But, since Christ has died in our place, offering to us the opportunity for redemption, all we need to do is accept His free offer of salvation and eternal life in heaven with Him. I know there are many who are skeptical or just flat out refuse to believe any of this is true. They have been blinded by their worldly priorities and can't see the truth of the gospel. Some will never believe. They will suffer the eternal suffering for which awaits those who refuse or fail to know Jesus as their savior. And that is where another of our Christian priorities becomes evident. We must let these people know, as guided by the Holy Spirit, who Jesus is, the love He has for us and give them the opportunity to accept this free gift of salvation. Only God knows who is chosen; we don't know but that should never stop us from telling anyone about Jesus.
In our society today, people have a wide range of priorities. Depending on the hottest issues in the news, it might be anything from political agendas to standing or kneeling for the national anthem. Allow me to share my life's priorities with you.
First, and foremost at the top of this list is Jesus Christ/God. For the reasons stated above and for the most personal reasons. He has saved me from a detestable life of sin and has given me a peace in my heart which only those who know Him can understand.
The second of my top three is the Church of Jesus Christ. It is the body of Christ made up of all those who believe in Jesus as their Lord and savior. Through this Church comes the work of God into our society. It brings the gospel to the lost world. Without Jesus' death on the cross, there is no salvation for the lost (in their sin), there is no Church and there is no sense of God in the world. Everything would be total chaos in a sense we might not be able to imagine. So, the Church is second on my lists of priorities for these reason and I could name so many more but space prevents me.
And the third priority is my immediate family. God has given to me a loving wife and we are one in Jesus. Nothing else needs to be said about that. He has also given to me three great children, all different, all with different lives and all who know Jesus. Also included here is my extended family such as my brothers and sisters. The majority of these know Jesus as their savior and were always there when I needed them. The family is the institution which God has created to bind us together but the devil strives to divide.
You might have noticed I didn't list my love of country or my patriotism. I am a combat military veteran and I have no regret for the time I spent in that service. But, during my time in combat, it was Jesus who got me through that. It wasn't the skills which the Marines taught me, it was Jesus. So, when people want to burn the flag, kneel for the anthem or do anything else which is disrespectful to the country, I try not to get caught up in all the hype and the news cycle. And, sometimes, I have to remind myself of my top priority in life and move on. After all, it was Jesus who saved me, not my patriotism.
So, what are your priorities in life? Do you know Jesus? He is the most important thing in life; He is the giver of life. Consider your priorities but most important, consider Jesus if you don't know Him. He is the number one priority!