Priorities

Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You cloth yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them in a bag with holes [...] You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.                                  - Haggai 1:5-6,9

God takes our priorities seriously.

So seriously that when we don't put Him first, and care about His kingdom first, He makes our efforts in life futile.

"Just let me make a good salary, God, and I'll give some of it to your church."
"Let me finish this video game level, and then I'll read my Bible."
"I'm too busy to pray today, God, but you know I mean well."
"I have too much homework, God, so I can't go to Bible study."

Sound familiar? We all do it every day. Deadlines, bottom lines, worry lines, and long lines preoccupy our thoughts, and suddenly a God we cannot see or touch is easy to push out, bump down the list, and forget.

Have you ever, considered, though, that putting God and His priorities off may be the reason your life is fraught with busy-ness but devoid of productivity? Is building and maintaining God's Kingdom the first priority in your life? Does it even make the "Top 10" list? How many of your top priorities, on the other hand, involve building your own kingdom?

Try something radical: examine your priority list through the eyes of the Spirit. Move God back up the list. Years of wrestling with balancing Eternal priorities and Earthly ones in college taught me one thing: if you REALLY put God first, He gets it all done.

This isn't a "increase your productivity" scheme, or an efficacy model. It's just a sticking point God has with our worldly lives. He insists on being first. Christ promises, though, that if we prioritize God's way and seek His goals first, then all the other stuff WILL get taken care of (see Matthew 6:33).

Perhaps, as we re-align our priorities with God's, we might find ourselves living a life far less futile and feel more fulfilled.