Priorities

Intro:

Me

Golf Illustration: Shooting at the wrong pin.

People can do that with life.

Spend their whole life making great shots, but at the wrong target.

It doesn’t matter how successful you are, if you succeed at the wrong things.

People can be successful in their job, or with finances; but if their family falls apart, that’s devistating.

It’s one thing to make the mistake of aiming at the wrong pin in golf. That might ruin your game. You can play another game.

It’s another thing to make the mistake of aiming at the wrong pin when it comes to your life. You don’t get a do-over with that.

We

This is why it is so important for us to discover what our God-given responsibilities are, and how to prioritize them.

None of us want to waste our lives. Yet we see it happenning all around us.

Proverbs 29:18 ESV

Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

Wherever there are people who don’t know what God clearly expects from them, they waste their lives on the wrong things. But the person who knows what God expects and lives in alignment with that experiences real peace, joy, happiness, fulfillment and success.

Have you ever wondered how to order your life? Or what you were supposed to prioritize in life? Well, God gives us some answers.

You must know what your God-given responsibilities are and how to prioritize them.

1. Maintain your personal walk with God and obedience to Him. (Luke 14:26, 33)

Walking with God takes precedence over everything.

Story of Nabeel Qureshi - Tremendous family loss for coming to Jesus.

Walk with God comes before...

Family and life

Luke 14:26 NLT

“If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.

2. Everything you own

Luke 14:33 NLT

So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

Pie Illustration

2. Fulfill family responsibilities. (1 Tim. 5:8)

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

To be closer to your spouse in marriage than to anyone else. Gen. 2:24

2. To provide a living picture of how Christ and the church relate. Eph. 5:22-25

3. To raise kids to be godly adults. Mal. 2:15, Eph. 6:4, Deut. 6:6-7

I almost made the wrong decision in marriage.

Girlfriend who thought, “I don’t want to push any religion on our kids. I just want to expose them to different options and let them make the decision for themselves.”

4. To care for one another and help relatives who cannot work or care for themselves. 1 Tim. 5:4

My friend Enoch: In his budget - giving to parents.

My parents modeled this

1 Timothy 5:4 ESV

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

3. Fulfill responsibilities in Ministry/Church. (Heb. 10:25)

Meet together regularly. Heb. 10:25a

“I follow Jesus, I just don’t want to be a part of the church.”

That’s his bride.

Fire illustration. Heb. 10:25a

Hebrews 10:25 (ESV)

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some...

2. Strengthen and encourage one another. Heb. 10:25b

3. Work for harmony and unity Eph. 4:3

4. Treat one another with sacrificial love. John 13:34-35

5. Give and receive Scriptural correction. Heb. 3:12-13

Personal story of when I was falling in my faith.

6. Use the spiritual gifts that God gave us to benefit the church. 1 Cor. 12:7

7. Support the work financially. 1 Tim. 5:17-18

8. Follow spiritual leadership within Scriptural limits—and without complaining. Heb. 13:17

I used to really not like the idea of needing to submit to authority.

God had to really work on my heart in this area.

9. Personally make Disciples of Jesus Christ Matt. 28:18-20

4. Pay for our own living through a business or job. (Eph. 4:28)

Ephesians 4:28 ESV

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

Choose honest work, not illegitimate work that would displease God. Eph. 4:28

Do quality, energetic work that would please Christ. Col. 3:23

Work with a good attitude, since you are serving God. Eph. 6:7

Earn enough to...

Pay your own living expenses, so that you’re not dependent on others. 1 Thess. 4:11-12

Give to others in need. Eph. 4:28

Respectfully obey your superiors; in doing this you obey Christ. Col. 3:22

Treat subordinates considerately and fairly—or face discipline Col. 4:1

Keep walking in the right direction.

Life is never going to be perfect.

The goal is to keep walking with God and bringing him glory throughout our life.

If you keep going in the right direction, you will make progress.

Keep prioritizing God, family, ministry, work; all done God’s way.