5 Verses on Putting God First
We all need a wake up call once in a while, so let this post be yours today. It’s easy to fall into the daily motions, but take a moment to remember who the highest priority of your life is: the Lord Almighty, the Creator of the Universe, the Savior of Humanity, who is alive and present with us here and now.
The greatest commandment that Jesus gives is:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” (Luke 10:27).
An all consuming love is what’s required. Directing our emotions and thoughts, the work of our hands, and the thirst of our souls to the God who deserves everything.
What gets in the way of loving God so completely?
“You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why? Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.” - Haggai 1:9
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” - Matthew 6:33
Both of these verses refer to our earthly needs - shelter, food, clothing - as well as our self interest when we put those things before God. When we do so, we deprive ourselves of His peace and dishonor how He has always provided. We have genuine needs, but He can fulfill them. All He asks is that we choose Him first.
There is, of course, another kind of earthly distraction from loving God first and foremost.
“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…” - Exodus 2:3-5
Whatever we pour the most energy, thought, and money into that isn’t the Lord, that is our idol. What is your first thought of the day, and what is your last? If you’ve held onto an idol for a long time, it’s hard to let go and let go repeatedly. Make no mistake though, God is a jealous God, and He will not let anything take His place. But take heart that you won’t find a more willing person to help you overcome your idol.
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” - Matthew 16:24-25
I leave you with this final call and benediction. He wants us to go all in by taking up our cross - a task that is painful, heavy, and heartbreaking. When we take up our cross, we die to ourselves. We give up our security. Independence. Wealth. Time. But we know that He is worth it, with all the unconditional, overwhelming love that is at our fingertips anytime we choose. We just need to choose.