Priorities

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." - Matthew 6:24

     Close your eyes for a moment and think about something, anything. What's the first thing that pops into your mind?

     Did you think of a person? Someone you love, perhaps? Did you think of an object? How about an activity? Favorite song or TV show? Perhaps you thought about what you're going to do later, or what you would be doing if you weren't reading this.

     Did you think about God?

     The things we spend our time thinking about and doing are the things that take top priority in our lives. How often does pleasing and serving God make that list? Is that your number one priority, right up there at the top? Is it number two on your list? Does it even make the top ten? By placing anything before God, we make those things out to be idols. We worship them, we care about them more than God. We let those things (objects, activities, people, money, worries . . . anything) become other gods to us.

     God needs to be number one in our lives. Our purpose is to serve Him. Proverbs 3:6 says, "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." When God is number one, when we serve Him day and night, in both our thoughts and our works, when we are living one hundred percent for Him, He will lead us through the complicated and treacherous path of life. That doesn't mean our situations will always be perfect, but He will help us handle and get through anything that gets thrown our way.

     If we made a list of everyone and everything in our lives that is most important to us, I wonder how many lists would have God at the top? There are some who would and some who would not even have Him on the list at all. However, if you are a Christian, then God should be on your list. If God is on your list, He should be at the top. If He is not at the top, then what do you consider more important? What other gods do you serve? Read Matthew 6:24 again.

     You can only serve one God.

     "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Luke 12:34

     What or who is number one on your list? What is the treasure of your heart?

     "Therefore by their fruits you will know them." - Matthew 7:20

     If God is your number one, then let His light shine through you. The world shouldn't even have to ask you Who you serve. Let them know that God is at the top of your list.