First Things First

by Sandra Perry
Published April 29, 2005

Do you ever feel like you’re running for your life? Not literally, of course, but that you have so much to do and so little time to get it all done that your lungs are about to explode? Have you ever felt that if someone else calls you name or asks you to do anything else, you will go insane? We are the Overcommitted Generation. We are a people who have “Daytimered” all the joy out of our lives. We work full-time outside the home. We shuffle our kids to so many activities they never have time to play. We shuffle ourselves to so many activities that we never have time to rest. We are driven by “oughts” and “shoulds”. We think we know what God would have us do, but we never take the time to ask Him about it. We run ourselves ragged and then bludgeon ourselves for not doing more. We’re glorified gerbils spinning madly out of control, confusing activity with accomplishment. God instituted the Sabbath for a reason. We need down-time. We need time to rest, reflect and reconnect with ourselves and with God. We call ourselves doing “God’s work”, but even if all our activities are “good”, are we really doing any good?

In Matthew 6, Jesus reminds us that God knows what we need better than we do. He never intended for life to be a mad rush. He is a good father who gives good gifts to His kids. He knows what we need before we do. Also, like a good parent, God knows when not to give us the desires of our hearts. “So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31 – 33, emphasis mine)

We forget to make time to ask God for His opinion about our daily agendas. Just because an activity is a good thing or even a Christian thing, doesn’t make it YOUR thing. We have to constantly evaluate where we are in our lives and whether that place is God’s place for us. God has a plan for us. God has a plan for those around us. If we’re not listening to Him, we may very well miss out on that plan.

The bottom line is this: if we make God our first priority, He will insure that we will have everything we need and more. Seek him before everything because He sought for us despite everything.

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