We can write down a list and talk all about our priorities, but these things are not the truest indicator of the most important things in our lives. The best indicator of our priorities and what is important to us is how we spend our time. After all, the way we actually spend our time proves what we make a priority, and the things we prioritize indicate the things that we love because we prioritize the things that we love. This includes our relationship with God. If we love God, He will naturally become a priority in our lives every day.
Jesus taught in Matthew 6 about the importance of keeping our priorities in proper alignment. One of the commandments Jesus gave in this chapter was not to worry. What was the secret to not worrying? Jesus taught that a re-focus of priorities could quell worry. Instead of worrying, He taught, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need” (verse 33). Jesus’ call in Matthew 6 was a reminder to His listeners, and us, of the importance of making God and His kingdom a priority. Notice the three words in Jesus’ command, “above all else.” See, Jesus did not just call followers to seek God and His kingdom; He called them to seek God and His kingdom above all else. Nothing was to be more important than God, Jesus taught. This instruction came with a promise. When we seek God and His kingdom above all else, “He will give [us] everything we need” (verse 33). In other words, God will take care of everything else competing to be a priority when we make Him the priority of our lives.
The question we must answer today is, what are the priorities in your life? Are God and His kingdom the main priority of your life, or have other people and things taken that number one spot? Maybe today, you and I need to rearrange our priorities and make God’s kingdom and the things of Him our primary focus. Remember, when we do this, God will take care of everything else.
Take time today to evaluate what your true priorities are. Evaluate how you spend your time. What do you spend your time doing? How do you spend your money? That indicates priorities, too. Do your priorities align with your love for God? Does anything need to shift in your life so God and His kingdom become more of a priority? If so, how can you begin to make this shift?
Teaching about Money and Possessions
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
