Priorities
We Need to Constantly Remind Ourselves that God Needs to Be First in Everything
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. (Matthew 22:36-38 ESV)
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:31-33 ESV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV)
In the Lord's Prayer, "Our Father" precedes "Deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)
"The Lord is my Shepherd" comes before "the valley of the shadow of death" followed by the victory of "you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" (Psalm 23:1-5 ESV)
"[Humbly] submit yourselves therefore to God." comes before "Resist the devil" followed by the victory of "and he will flee from you." (James 4:6-7 ESV)
The spiritual progression of the children to young men to fathers starts with the children "having our sins forgiven and knowing the Father" and progresses to the young men "overcoming the evil one" and ends with the fathers "knowing Christ". (1 John 2:12-14 ESV) ["him who is from the beginning" is Christ (1 John 1:1 ESV)]
The Correct Order After Putting God First
- Spouse
- Children
- Brothers & Sisters in Christ
- Neighbors
- Enemies