Priorities
What is more important, attending church or sleeping in, a dentist appointment or a shopping trip, going to visit family or staying at home?
Every day we make decisions based on our priorities. Often times we feel that the only people affected by our choices are those closest to us, usually our immediate family members. No doubt they are impacted the most dramatically by our choices, but the ripples often go farther than we think!
Of course we influence our family’s destiny by choosing to attend church every Sunday to honor God and His Word. I wonder how many neighbors notice that we leave the house every Sunday all dressed up for church. Certainly this bolsters our testimony in the neighborhood and lends weight to our words when we tell the neighbors that we are Christians. Hebrews 10:25 helps us make the decision to remain faithful to church attendance.
However, other choices might not be as clear cut as church attendance for today’s Christian. Many times we are choosing between two beneficial activities. What then? Is there guidance for the “gray areas?” Of course God helps us with these!
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
When we realize that we need God’s leadership in everything, we begin to look to Him daily, even moment by moment, for wisdom. As His concerns become ours, we receive a better understanding of how we should orchestrate our lives. Davy Crockett is credited with saying, “Be sure you’re right, then go ahead!” His words agree with the principle of making choices with God’s leadership. It starts with making sure we are “right.” The first step is a commitment to obedience, aligning our priorities with His, then God offers the guidance we need and the right choices are more brightly illuminated.
Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
If our priorities are right, our thinking will be right, and our choices will be right!