Priorities

1. Priorities

You may (or may not) have noticed that I have not written this week. You may (or may not) have noticed I was late to the office this morning by a half an hour. But I noticed, and, while they were things that DID hit heavy on my mind, these actions were deliberate.  I had to make sure I was prioritizing the right things. This week, I was teaching Bible College students about ministry to youth, something I have nearly 20 years experience with, and today, I prioritized making sure things were right at home. Before I left, I made sure that my priority was exercising and praying with my family, something that has brought us closer together.

All too often, and I say this to Christians especially, we are box checkers. We live our lives by “have to’s.” “I have to do X so I will achieve Y, I have to do this so that person will be happy, if I don’t achieve this, then I will be less in my own eyes.” If we’re honest, many of us have established our worth based on the boxes we check. We can achieve everything we want to and still have our priorities out of joint, though! Loved ones, Jesus established that all of the Law and Prophets hinge on two commands: to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind and soul; and to love your neighbor as yourself. Living in a way that Honors God with thought, word and action, and loving people in a way that honors God,  should be the priority we live by. In this, we are fulfilling what God desires of us. Get your priorities straight (and, if you have a Job that expects you to be there on time, show up on time…but prioritize time to glorify God and love others!).

Luke 10:21-42

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary, Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”