For any endeavor to succeed, we must set our priorities accordingly. When starting a new business, you must prioritize how you spend your time and your money in order to achieve success. In preparing for the big game, you must prioritize your time and training if you want to have the best chance at winning.

Setting your priorities is not only important for success in your physical life, but also for your spiritual life. Where would God have us place our priorities? Did Jesus teach us what our priorities should be?

Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (emphasis mine) We are to seek out God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness first. It should be our top priority in life. Do we have an example of what that looks like? Look at Hebrews 11:9, “By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;”. The Hebrew writer is speaking about Abraham, who was instructed by God to gather his things and his family and leave his home to go to a place he was unaware of. He obeyed God without question and did as he was instructed. He was putting God first.

Have you ever considered this: Jesus refuses to occupy any other position in one’s life other than 1st place. And why would we put Jesus first?

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'”

Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Jesus is the only way to salvation. It cannot be had through any other person. He paid the heavy price for our sins so that we could have the hope of having Heaven as our eternal home. We must be in Christ and abiding in His doctrine if we want to have salvation. Therefore, Christ must be our priority.

How can we know if Jesus is our priority?

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (emphasis mine)

Do our actions reflect that we are following the word of God? Do others see the love of God in us? Are we striving to imitate Christ in all that we say and do? If not, we had better take a look at our priorities! God’s word is what will judge us in the end (John 12:48). We need to make it a priority to prepare for that judgment!

What condition is your soul in today? Are you lost? Or, are you saved? It is a matter of your priorities.