What is your number one priority?

People in general have priorities in life. In doing so, they give more attention to certain things more than other things. And that can be understood. However, it begs the question; what place does God take in the order of your priorities? 

For the Christian, God is the number one priority in life. Anyone or anything that comes before God is an idol. God makes it clear, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).

The Scripture also states that God “is a jealous God” (Exodus 34:14), and rightly so because He has declared of himself: “I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols” (Isaiah 42:8). Salvation was purchased at a tremendous cost by God in giving “His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). And this means the eternal security of anyone who trusts Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior. 

God has revealed himself to us through the holy Scriptures. Everything we need to know about salvation and being a Christian is stated in the Scriptures.  

King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, made this statement: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil”(Ecclesiastes 12:13). The words “Fear God” means reverential trust.  

There is so much to be gained when God is top priority in our lives. God never abandons His children. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us.  King David said the following about God’s word: “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:7-9).

These divine standards are revealed in the purposes and word of God Almighty. God’s word is holy and it will endure forever because it is settled in heaven, which means absolutely nothing on earth can render it to be invalid. The Christian’s ongoing desire is to worship and serve God in truth, sincerity and faithfulness. God honors those who honor Him. 

It was not God’s intent to save us and immediately take us out of the world to Himself. Quite the contrary. In His prayer to the Father, Jesus said, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). 

From this prayer we see that Christians will continue to live in the world as long as God permits. During our stay in the world, we can be effective witnesses for the Lord by proclaiming the good news that “the Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (Galatians 1:3-5).

It should also be pointed out that Christians are not exempt from difficulties and problematic situations. The huge difference is that God gives the divine assurance that He will never abandon us. In Isaiah 41:10 God says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 

Observe how God uses the personal pronoun “I” throughout the text; “I am with you,” “I am your God, “I will,” “I will,” and “I will.” Let it be clearly understood that unlike man, God says exactly what He means. He has never, and will never deny His word. “Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19).

Let’s not miss the significance of the last clause in the text; “I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” This could be considered as God affirming that He has great and unlimited power to do anything.      

May it be the Christian’s resolve that in everything God will be preeminent, thereby making Him our number one priority in life.