Matthew 6:31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
This passage of scripture presents one of the major, ongoing challenges each Christian has to face and overcome, if we are to win the war on priorities. The above verses mention some of the concerns of temporal life which absorb the interest of the average person, such as food, drink, clothing, and shelter, and these things are what are described as being the "Necessities" of life, so that there is no problem whatsoever in seeking after them. The problem occurs when we seek them "First", leaving God and spiritual things for last, after our energies and resources have been depleted. Thus, it is an issue of priority that is being addressed by The Lord Jesus, and not that of the transient things of this life. Let's read:
Philippians 4:6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
There are may Christians who serve God by convenience, who earnestly seek for Him only after their everyday concerns are met and satisfied. Then there are those of us who try in vain to straddle both sides of the fence, by incorporating into our devotions, our common cellphone talk and business plans, whilst we try to catch a glimpse of God's glory through His word. Then there are still others who have set aside time for communion with God, but the only problem is that it's at the end of the day, when we are weary and tired from the hustle and bustle of life. In this last scenario we are more prone to fall asleep during our prayers and devotions, than if we had set aside prime time, when our energy and zeal are at their peak.
Any which way, we are all faced with that daily challenge of seeking God first, and therefore, if we intend to be victorious in this, and all other aspects of the Christian life, there are certain steps which must be taken, and certain attitudes which must be developed and put in place, in order for us to run over the long haul. First and foremost is that of choosing the best time of the day to spend with Christ, whatever the very best time may be. The Lord is not pleased with lame offerings, and therefore we should develop the habit of giving our best to The master. With some, the best time may be mornings, but with others the best time may be the evening, because in our day we have the issue of working different shifts, which may not fall in line with the average nine to five work day.
The next step is to be disciplined enough to stick to a plan, for if we develop the habit of waiting for priorities to fall into their rightful place, that time will never come. This will call for choice and decision on our part, but through the grace and strength accorded us through The Lord Jesus Christ, we can be steadfast and relentless, running the Christian race every day with a steady and even tread.
And last but not least is the desire to seek God, which comes about as a result of the Spirit's work in our hearts, showing us our dire need of pardon and cleansing, and keeping Christ ever before our faces, so that we have an infinite standard of attainment, which keeps us shooting for the stars.
If by the grace of God, and through prayer for strength to make it happen, we are enabled to seek God first everyday, then all of the other necessities of life will fall into their rightful place under Christ, and we will soon find that half of life's worries are never worth the time we spend fussing and fretting over things we cannot change.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which shows us the key to winning the war on priorities, and it is the will of God that we have Him first in our affections, so that the promises made in the verses, could have practical meaning in our Christian experience from day to day. Let's read:
Isaiah 40:29He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!