Who Is really First In Our Lives?

It is sometimes difficult to be sincerely honest with ourselves. We are admonished to examine ourselves 2 Corinthians 13:5. This examination must cover a wide range of areas: worship, forgiveness, kindness, love for God and others etc. but it also includes an honest examination of who is really first in our lives. There are several bible passages that emphasize putting God first. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you” Matthew 6:33. “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” Proverbs 16:3. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Matthew 6:19-21. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your affections (minds) on things above and not on things of the earth” Colossians 3:1-2. Have we considered the fact that if we do not put the kingdom of God first, in the end it will make no difference what you have chosen instead (William Law)?

It has been said, “Placing him first in your life should be your daily goal, the main pursuit in the midst of all your other pursuits” (Paul Chappel). If we honestly examined ourselves, it be said that we are truly seeking God first?

I sincerely believe the most difficult thing to relinquish in our lives is ourselves, yet that is exactly what we must do to put God first in our lives. Jesus said “…If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me” Matthew 16:24. The word deny means “to deny utterly, disown, and abstain.” Is this not what Jesus did? Did he not deny himself to come to this low land of pain and sorrow to suffer and die for the salvation of men “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8. NASV translates it “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant…” Jesus gave up all the riches of glory and became poor that the human race would have the opportunity to be rich 2 Corinthians 8:9. Since he gave so much (his life) to save us, is it really asking too much to give ourselves in faithful service to him?

We sometime talk about giving ourselves. We sing about giving ourselves, but have we really given ourselves? What about when there is something we want to do on the Lord’s Day other than worship. Who is the person really putting first when he says “I am so tired today, I think I will sleep in this Sunday and pick back up next Sunday”. Who is being put first? What about the person who goes to a ball game on Saturday night and gets back in the early morning hours and then just cannot make it to services because he needs to sleep. Who has been put first? What about the person who will miss services because they are on vacation, or want to go fishing, or hunting or some other activity instead of assembling with the saints. Who has he put first? The list could go on, but these examples should suffice to prove the point. In Luke 14 a parable is given regarding some who were invited to a supper and those invited began to make excuses. One said I have bought land and need to go see it, another said I have bought oxen and need to test them. Another said I have married a wife and cannot come. The married man put his family before the Lord, the realtor put his land before the Lord, the farmer put his livestock before the Lord. What are we guilty of putting before the Lord? May the Lord help us to keep him in his rightful place, FIRST.

Bill Cantrell