IMPORTANT OR NOT?

Important or Not ???!!!!

Back in secondary school, in one of the economics classes, we were taught the ‘scale of preference‘. It is a list of wants and needs in order of importance. From the most urgent to the least.

Our natural self has many needs, however all these needs are not of equal priority. Since man’s resources are limited, (time is limited, so also is money) he must move the more important needs to the top of the list.

Looking into the mirror of God’s word… 👇🏾👇🏾

“Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honour your father and your mother.’ ” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Mark 10:17-22).

Jesus’ request was simple. He asked for just one thing. For the man to move Him up on his scale of preference- above his wealth, but the man could not do it. This was the last thing he expected to hear.

He was holding on tight to his riches and could not forgo it for the One who gave him the riches. He could not exchange his life of vanity for the eternal life he wanted “What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” He fulfilled all the laws? YES. He obeyed the commandments? YES. But there was a missing piece of the puzzle. He didn’t have Jesus as number one in his life. He was a law abiding countryman with little or no knowledge of the King of that country.

Many of us, would not out-rightly admit that God is not first in our everyday life – of course we wouldn’t dare admit it openly.

Which is why you have to make an honest survey of your life. What does your life say about your priorities? Have you at some point got your priorities all wrong? Sometimes, God has to strip us of certain things for us to draw near to Him. Jesus saw that for Him to be the first on this rich man’s scale of preference, He had to trade places with the man’s wealth – which at that time, was his sole priority. “…what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:27). Does God also have to strip us of those things of no value, before we let Him take His rightful position in our lives? What is it that we value more in our lives? Is it fame, riches, family, academics, career or marriage? How many times have we let such things push Jesus to the bottom of our scale of preference? If an ‘X-ray of your thoughts’ was taken now, would God even be among the top 10 on your preference list, let alone top 5. It is good to be academically sound, financially stable, to love your spouse or kids but seek FIRST the kingdom of God, then every other thing can follow. These things are only good when they are not more treasured than our relationship with God. Let us not become so preoccupied in our pursuit of things of the world rather than in our pursuit of God.

“The secret of a happy life is giving God the first part of your day, the first priority to every decision, and the first place in your heart” – Unknown

“Placing Him first in your life should be your daily goal, the main pursuit in the midst of all your other pursuits.” – Paul Chappell

Prayer: Dear God, help me to solely keep you as first in my life. Amen. 

Cheerfully in Christ,

Inoluwa

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INI-OLUWA ATOWOJU.

Ini-Oluwa is a medical student in constant pursuit of God.She is a fashion enthusiast who believes you can be fashionable and stylish while being covered.She has a heart for youths and teenagers.