In Christian and church circles you will almost universally hear people give a formulaic response to describe how they live their lives.
God first.
Family second.
Job third.
I’ve heard that nearly all my life. It sounds so good. “I got me priorities in order, ya know what I’m sayin’?”
Nope, I don’t know what you’re saying. I’ve got some problems with it.
It’s too complex.
It’s too categorical.
It’s too cliché.
Why is it too complex? Well, I don’t see it anywhere in the bible. What I see in scripture is that it is all about God: God period. I’m called to please God and I’m called to please God by loving my wife and raising my kids in God’s admonition. I’m also called to work as though I’m working for the Lord. At the beginning and end of all of it is God.
I think God said that once. Or twice. “I am.” He is. He is the Alpha and the Omega. The Cause and the Effect. He is.
So, let’s make prioritization of our lives simple: God is, yes, God is my all in all.
Why is it too categorical? Well, same reason. This isn’t complex. God is. We don’t need more categories. When we live to please God we will live to do what He’s called us to. He’s called us to love and respect and submit to one another in love, both within and without our families. He’s called us to train our children in His ways. He’s called us to love one another and to be a living sacrifice, worshiping Him. There’s no reason to talk about how we’ll serve Him, serve our family, and serve our workplace in descending order. What we need to do is listen to His voice, obey what He says, and live all of life seeking to please Him in everything we do.
Why is it too cliché? Because it is. Everyone loves to say it but no one lives it. Most of us get it upside down. And when God isn’t truly are all in all then everything else falls apart. We don’t do our work well; we don’t serve our family well; we don’t love our neighbors well; and, of course, if He’s not first, then we clearly aren’t loving God well – with all our heart, our soul, and our strength!
Oh, wow, as I type this I’m watching an amazing sunset. Just had to say it.
Anyway, that wise guy we are following once said something about seeking first God and His Kingdom – all the rest falls in line. Let’s clean up our priorities, stop talking about some formula of first God, then family, and then work, and let’s make all of life about glorifying the only One who is worthy!
