“Setting Our Priorities Straight”
Today, I want to focus on setting our priorities straight. I am convinced that part of the reason why many people walk around depressed, frustrated, and anxious is because their priorities are out of order. I remember speaking with a pastor who wanted me to work with him as a Co-Pastor. In our conversation, he gave the order of his priorities: 1) God, 2) his job, 3) his ministry, and 4) his family. The ignorance of this man blew me away. It did not take me long to decline his offer.
First is God, and second is our families (Wife and kids). Everything else MUST flow out of these two priorities. Our jobs can be placed in third place as our income is critical to provide for our families. Our ministries can be forth as we utilize God-given gifts for his glory and the service of his people. Like many Americans, I work an 8 to 5 job. While I am at work, I give 100 percent. However, come 5:00 PM, unless there is an emergency, I am gone.
Some folks are consumed with their jobs. They have the ambition to be promoted, make more money, have more influence, be recognized, etc. However, they don’t realize that every extra mile you give at work is an extra mile you are taking away from your family and your self-care.
How do we set our priorities straight? Look at where your thoughts, time, and focus are going. See, when you are at work, you must focus on the task at hand and give your job the required time, eight hours a day and 40 hours a week. The problem is that many people find any excuse to stay after 5:00 to impress their supervisor, and even when they are home, they are thinking, talking, and focusing on work… they never disconnect. If that is you… your priorities are out of order, and it is a matter of time before your job takes another extra mile, this time, from your health.
When you get off work, go home to your family and be there, in the moment, with them, not thinking and talking about work. The Bible establishes that we must love God above all things; that is the first commandment (Matthew 22:35-40). But after God, there is nothing more important than family. God chose Abraham as the Father of our faith (Galatians 3:6-9). But why? Why specifically choose Abraham? God gives us the answer in Genesis 18:19,
For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” (ESV)
Abraham is the father of the nation of Israel and, as mentioned before, the father of our faith; what a remarkable call! But it was given to him because God knew Abraham was a family man. Can God say that about you or me?
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