Priorities In Life

We were all created uniquely, gifted differently and our destiny paths might vary depending on one’s assignment here on Earth however, we must have priorities in life. To be successful in our area of calling, we have to set our priorities right and our priorities are determined by our value systems. Our value systems as believers, ought to be founded on the Word of God but most of the times we can have twisted priorities due to distractions. I’ll be real with you, sometimes distractions can look like blessings until we discover how far-off course we are. Let’s take a journey at some few Scriptures that will give us a clearer perspective about priorities in life.

Case Study 1:Herodias.

Mark 6:18-28 – John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, ²⁰ for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.

²¹ Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee. ²² Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.” ²³ He even vowed, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!”

²⁴ She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!”²⁵ So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!”²⁶ Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her. ²⁷ So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison, ²⁸ brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother.

From the above context of Scripture, we read how John the Baptist was beheaded. He was no criminal but he only spoke truth to Herod about his conduct of marrying his brother’s wife but lol and behold, this did not go very well with Herodias. Herodias being a wicked woman who wanted her way, nursed a grudge against John the Baptist and she waited for an opportune time to take revenge. Her priority to ask for John the Baptist head was insane. She used her position as the wife of Herod, to execute a wicked act that even the king himself deeply regretted his careless words of making an oath.

Who can relate with me, when we see people who rise to leadership positions in different capacities be it in organizations or government institutions but end up abusing the office they hold? They mistreat their juniors, they can’t be corrected and when worse gets to worse, they use their positions to humiliate people who refuse to go by their rules even when the rules are not founded on principles. That’s why we need to pray for our leaders at all times or else we will experience injustices spewing all over.

This is my take-Don’t have twisted priorities just because of what you have gone through in the past. Wisdom dictates, we have to learn how to overlook some things and move on with life.

Proverbs 19:11-A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

Case study 2: Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 2:1-5 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, ² so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart. “I was very much afraid, ³ but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

⁴ The king said to me, “What is it you want?”Then I prayed to the God of heaven, ⁵ and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

Nehemiah was a guy who had a privileged life as a cup bearer for the King, I mean, he was among the elect few who enjoyed life with a big spoon. However, if you look closely at Nehemiah Chapter 1, he received distressing news from his brother and some other men, of how those who had survived exile, were in great trouble and the wall of Jerusalem was broken down. He had a choice to overlook the situation but instead he chose to fast and pray for God’s favor to face the King to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the broken walls. Look at how His priorities were founded on rebuilding what was broken down and not only that, his heart for servant -leadership is what gave him the burden to leave behind the luxurious life and head towards a project which was marked with challenges and oppositions as it is well detailed in the next chapters.

Servant -leadership is what makes major differences when it comes to governance in any institution. When priorities are based on values and not selfish interests, people end up supporting the leaders in charge, growth is inevitable and positive transformation is always experienced.

Case Study 3-The Apostles in The book of Acts.

Acts 6:1-4-But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. ³ And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. ⁴ Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”

There was rapid growth in the early church in Jerusalem and as they grew, there was contention about daily distribution of food to the widows. The Apostles knew their priority very clearly which was to teach the Word and not run a food program. So, to avoid this contention which was brewing between Greek speaking believers and Hebrew speaking believers, they delegated seven men who were well respected and full of the wisdom of God, to handle the responsibility of daily food distribution. This enabled them to stay focused on their mandate because there priorities were not twisted.

We need to be humble to ask God to deliver us from wrong priorities since with time, we become what we prioritize in life. The words of Apostle Paul to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:15- Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Don’t be too busy chasing after misplaced priorities that you end up forgetting about your mandate. The reason we see people making excuses why things had to be done in a certain way or not done in a certain way, is because of the priorities they have. Things which matter most should never be at the mercy of things which matter less, learn to separate urgent from important and you will be surprised at how productive you will be in your endeavors.

Case Study 4: Mary & Martha.

Luke 10:38-42-As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

I bet is just the nature of any woman to be hospitable when guest visit her house. It’s kinda inbuilt for a woman to prepare good meals for guests and make sure they are comfortable during their visit. However, in the above context, Jesus was pleased by the fact Mary took her time to sit at His feet and listen to Him and this is what He told Martha” Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her”. That would have sounded abit harsh for Martha, considering she was the one running around with tea cups, cleaning the utensils but her busyness was only a distraction to what mattered at that time which was the Word.

Here is the catch, our priorities in seeking after the Kingdom of God should not be overtaken by the busyness of how we handle the things God has blessed us with. Your family, your children, your spouse, your ministry, your career or your business, should never take the place of God. I know with increased responsibility our hands tend to get full but that should not be a substitute of our communion with God in prayer and meditating on His Word. Nobody is too busy it’s just a matter of priorities.

Parting Shot:-Working on a project, raising a family, navigating in your career, handling as assignment in governance or whatever it is you are doing today, learn to realign your priorities properly. Just because your friends are doing something or going somewhere doesn’t mean you should join them if your priorities are not in sync.Just because people tend to be investing in a certain venture does not mean you should take that route.

Saying No to something or someone does not mean you are a weak person; it only means you have thought carefully and a No is a Yes to what really matters.

When all is said and done, God’s judgement will be determined by our priorities. May you receive the grace to realign your priorities correctly in Jesus Mighty Name.

Love ReinaBeaty.