What is God’s will for our lives? God’s purpose for our lives should always take a precedent over our own desires, and that includes all aspects of our marriage, work, career, family, and play. If we are not sure if we are doing the will of God, then we need to carefully consider our actions and pray about it. I know it is difficult to make God first in our lives, but He has shown us how to give Him first place in 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 NIV)
I do know that by looking at our earthly and spiritual treasures it gives us an idea of what our priorities are. What do you treasure now for your life? What values do you have over your material possessions? If someone said you had to give up all your material possessions before you could go to heaven, what would you do? What spiritual possessions do you have embedded within your character now that you apply into your daily life?
God is a compassionate and loving Father because He does not ask us to give up the material things that we have, he only asks us to make Him come first over what we have! Have you done that? Can you do that? That is what Christian priorities is all about; learning to let down our pride and let God. We have all erred in this way – no one is immune to portions of greed, selfishness and pride, or basing our life upon our own understanding of “what we think is right”. This is how many of us sin without even realizing it.
We are so caught up in the world’s amoral and corrupt ways that we have not stopped to see that we Christians sin every single day of our lives! We may not be committing sexual sins, and other abhorrent atrocities, but what we are doing may even be worse! We’re supposed to be God’s servants, God’s messengers and God’s ambassadors, and yet, how can we do those things, if we have not placed God first in our lives? What are we showing others about our lives?
Where do your treasures lie? When friends and family come over to your house, what do they see? More importantly, what do they see in you? If we remember that we are to first seek God’s Kingdom on earth and His righteousness over us, then we will surely be doing the will of our father in heaven.
So for the Christian our treasure is in heaven first, which is knowing what our spiritual gifts are and then applying them into our lives in whatever capacity and purpose that God has set out for us. And then, and only then can we will be a blessing to others and to family and ourselves.
…But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that is already laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:10-11 NIV)