Putting God First

How many of you start each week with a “to do” list?  And then comes Friday, and there didn’t seem to be enough time to quite finish everything on that list.  It seems like there is never enough time to accomplish everything we think we need to accomplish.  And we forget how important it is to ask God to show us what He would have us do each day.

A wise man once said that we should, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." (Proverbs 16:3)

During times when I’m the busiest, I am reminded of the story of Mary and Martha in the Bible.  I often feel that I am like Martha wanting to plan and organize everything.  But God doesn't want us to be so busy that we don't spend time with Him.

“While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

Mary had made the better choice of spending time with Jesus.

Yes, like Martha we might have work commitments and things that we must do, but it is more important to know what God would have us do.  Our time on earth is short, and I encourage you to seriously think about how you are spending your time.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that we should, “...fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

We need to be careful not to be like the seed in the parable of the sower that landed among the thorns, “Others are sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, but the worries of this age, the seduction of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”  (Mark 4:18-19)

There are so many things that can occupy our time, and many of these things we need to do, but the most important is spending time with God.  I am often challenged about my spare time and whether I am giving God the best times of my day.  Is it really important that I spend time on Facebook or watching movies on Netflix?  Ask yourself the question, “How would God want me to spend my time?”

The most important church meeting we can attend is the one where we spend time with God.  The Psalmist wrote, “I complain and groan morning, noon, and night, and He hears my voice.” (Psalm 55:17)  God hears us when we cry out to him.  And I encourage you to set aside some time to pray and to ask God to show you how you can best manage your own time.  

Is there a job that God wants you to do for Him, or is there an activity He wants you to give up?  Place your life in God's hands and ask Him to guide your heart. 

I pray that as you do this, God will give you His peace and encourage you in your Christian walk.

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