Priorities

What are your priorities? Do you know? In other words what is most important in your life? You need to have this one correct in your life because it has very long term effects.

Here are some examples of wrong priorities:
A minister that values the needs of his church over his children's needs.
A husband that values only his wife's beauty.
A father or mother that climbs the company ladder at the expense of their children.
A parent that allows a hobby or interest to take priority over their family.
A missionary that sets aside their own children's needs for the needs of others they are bombarded with.
A wife that simply pursues material possessions and gets caught up in "keeping up with the Jones".
A father that wants to make his child a sports star at all costs.


Our priorities determine how we spend our time and money. This has a huge impact on how we live our lives.

The Bible gives us clear guidance on this question in these two statements.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind".
"Do unto others as you would be done by and love your neighbor as yourself".

First we should love God.
Second we are to love ourselves.
Third we are to love others.

Loving God with our heart, soul, and mind gives us a worldview that is larger than ourselves. Our human perspective is very, very, limited and it would be easy for us to fall into a hedonistic*, self-centered lifestyle.
* hedonist- living for pleasure, seeking self gratification.

Loving ourselves does not give us permission to simply live for our own selfish interests. However, loving oneself is quite necessary for us to be able to love others. Self hate leads to a crippled life complicated by self-doubt, guilt, and an unhealthy body. We are UNABLE to serve others if we do not love ourselves.

Loving others is a great investment. Our families should be the number one "others". Your children will know where your heart is. Missing this one has very long term consequences. If you love God and take care of yourself you will be able to raise children that will put God first in their lives and love God with their heart soul and mind.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well". Matthew 6:33