Where Do Your Priorities Lie?

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." ~ Deut. 6:5

The above-cited verse is also quoted by Jesus in Matthew 22: 37-38 as being the "first and greatest commandment."

Joshua 22:5, among other passages, stresses the importance of giving God precedence over everything else in life. I know there are times when we have to deal with the proverbial "ox in the ditch" - the burst water pipe in the laundry room, or some other such one-time reason that may keep us from services (for us it was always a plumbing problem, anyway). There may also be times when you're forced to work by your boss' orders. This, too, cannot be helped. There will be times when we're legitimately physically or emotionally ill and need to rest in the quiet and be left alone. I know God understands. However, much of what we allow to keep us from serving Him as we should is trivial, no matter how important it seems to us at the time, and is not a legitimate reason for foregoing our attending worship services and showing our appreciation to God for all His blessings.

Let's examine some of our excuses:

A. "I had to work." - Like I said, for some this IS a legitimate reason. Many in the health care industry must work on Sundays during hours normally set aside for worship. They have no choice. In my mind, they're doing God's work by attending to the sick. Also, God says we're to work to provide for our own and it's necessary. I believe God understands when people are in this position. However, I don't think He'll give a free pass to those who are simply working to accumulate more wealth so they can buy more amenities and status. Material wealth is temporary in nature, so that is a futile reason to work (Prov. 23:4-5; 1 Jno. 2:15).

B. "Sunday is my only day off. I need that day for myself and to rest." - Our first duty - our whole reason for existence - is to serve God. We're to seek His kingdom first and He has promised to bless us for doing so (Eccl. 12:13; Mt. 6:33-34; Col. 3:1-3).

C. "I'm a good person. I don't have to be present at worship services to be pleasing to God." - For starters, God tells us not to forsake assembling together (Heb. 10: 24-25). He does know our hearts and our hidden agendas (Luke 16:15; Acts 5:29). He knows whether we're inclined to worship or if we're really just wanting to hang with our friends, or go to the lake, to a game, or just get on with our vacation. Remember, God doesn't take vacations. Do you include Him in your weekend/vacation plans? My husband and I have had a blast meeting members of the body of Christ in other parts of the country where we've vacationed.

I know no one's perfect. I'm certainly not and will own the fact! I do, however, try to give God first priority on purpose in my life. I want Him to know I'm on His side and that I'm thankful for all His blessings. I don't want to miss out on any chance to show Him reverence. Also, Christ's blood sacrifice is the veil between my sins and my salvation and I require a steady dose of cleansing. I hope all of you, too, will give God first place in your lives as well.

Love Ya,
God Bless!