Priorities–God First

If your excuse is, “I don’t have time to spend for God,” then read on . . .

One of the unforgettable images God used to get the attention of the people of Jerusalem was this: “You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it” (Haggai 1:6). It talked about all the labour they put in to their work, but their reward was somehow draining away. Why?

These people had come back from captivity of seventy years in Babylon. They came back as a small group and found their fields and vineyards in ruin. They tried to bring their land back to fertility again. Eighteen years had passed by since they came back. But then they had forgotten the most important reason why they had come back. Oh, they had come back to the land to rebuild the temple of God by the decree of King Cyrus (2 Chronicles 36:23, Ezra 1:2-4). That should have been their topmost priority.

Instead they kept on saying, ” The time has not yet come for the LORD’s house to be built” (Haggai 1:2 NIV). But God challenges these people asking them why it was when they expected much it turned out to be little? And what little they brought home, God blew away. God asked them, “Why?” Dear child of God, have you stopped to consider why nothing you do seems to prosper? Then think on this as a possible reason. What is the priority you have given to God? Is He first in your life? Or are other things like your job, your leisure, your family, your entertainment, your friends, your ministry etc. crowding out God from your life? God clearly said to these people that blessings were withheld from them because they gave God a low priority in their lives.

God Himself asked the people the question as to why blessings were withheld from them and He Himself answered in these words: “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house” (Haggai 1:9 NIV). That clearly could be the reason why God is unable to bless you today. So get right with your priorities. Put God first in your family, in your worship, in your work, in your leisure and in your relationships. Even as you take the first step in this direction, God says, “From this day on I will bless you” (Haggai 2:19 NIV).

So do not wait. Take that first step to put God first in your life. As Jesus said, seek God’s kingdom first and His righteousness and all that you need will given to you. It is because God already knows that you need them (Matthew 6:32, 33). But the priority is God first. When you thus put God first and honour Him, He will also honour you (1 Samuel 2:30).

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