Last Friday , we began with a New study on Kingdom values and we studied on Accountability. And how important it is for all of us to attend. Please do attend and don’t miss the mid week meetings.
As we entered 2021 , it is good to reflect on how to set our priorities right.
Every person has their own priorities and values in life. Let me put it this way “Our values set our priorities”.
Illustration:
Surprised to see an empty seat at the world cup football final stadium, a diehard fan asked the woman sitting nearby whose seat it was. “It was my husband’s,” the woman explained, “But he died.” “I’m very sorry,” said the man. “Yet I’m really surprised that you still love him and you even did not give another relative a chance to take the seat reserved for him.” The woman said. “They all insisted on going to my husband’s funeral.”
In similar lines, when Israel had been taken captive into Babylon. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were chosen among the captives to stand before the king. The king had appointed them a daily portion of his meat and wine for them to drink. However, Daniel and his friends did not defile themself with the portion of the king’s meat. They knew they were Hebrews, they knew their values. Daniel chose to stand by his values which set up his priorities in life.
What we are learning on Fridays (i.e. Kingdom values ) will help us to set our priorities right.
Let’s look at how we can set our priorities right for the New Year 2021.
By setting our Values right.
Most of us are in the place we are in because of misplaced priorities. We went to a driving school but still cannot drive. We joined music classes but we can hardly play any note. We started a course and could not complete it. We never gave our 100% and therefore we lose.
“Our values set our priorities”. Priority must be based on our spiritual values than worldly values
Two things that are difficult for most people to do: To think, and to do things in the order of their importance.” What a tragedy it would be to have gone through your whole life and at the end of it, look back, and realize that you spent all your time, money and energy on things that were pointless and had no value or worth.
- Place God above everything
Luke 10- 38-42
38 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.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Serving others is highly commendable in the Bible, and it is certainly not wrong to serve. But in this instance priorities were an issue. Listening to Christ’s teachings was even more important than food preparation.
One thing I understood over the period of time, that we will never come to a place where we would say that we have enough time, and then spend that time in reading, praying etc. That will never happen. I am talking as a person who is still struggling. What we have is, the time now.
Let us look at what Jesus Did.
Luke 4:38-42
38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. 40 At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. 41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. 42 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.
Luke 4 : 42 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking out for him. The reason He departed from the crowd and went to deserted places is because His priority was His relationship with God the Father. When most of us would say, “I’ve had a long, tiring day, I just need to relax.” Or when we say, “I’ve got a big day tomorrow, I need to get a good night’s sleep,” Jesus says, “I need to spend extra time with God. I need to pray.”
On the other hand, the Bible records examples of people who had distorted priorities, and who actually rejected Christ’s offer to become one of His disciples
Luke 9 : 57-62
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
Nothing was wrong in their statement, but Jesus was teaching them an important lesson.
God was NOT their first priority
- Develop Godly character.
As Christians we know that we are saved by grace through faith. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not important to live a godly life in Christ. Of course, living a godly life in Christ doesn’t have anything to do with our salvation. Salvation is solely by grace through faith. However, living a godly life has everything to do with :
A. Maintaining our relationship with God
By simply maintaining a consistent devotional life. The very life and character of God will, in many ways, almost “automatically” be transferred to you. A consistent devotional life is an absolute key to Christlike character.
B. Weigh Choices
Weigh our choices before we decide. Choose what is right in the eyes of God.
We need to bring our thoughts, our mind, our will, and emotions under the influence of the Holy Spirit, living inside of us. The Spirit will lead us. This is not achieved by ourselves but in constant touch with God.
C. Godly mentors.
The Bible says in Proverbs 13:20 – “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
Apart from the Word of God, and my relationship with Him, the single most important factor in my life has been godly mentors.
Nothing can impacted me more. Not books, not conferences. Not seminars, etc. The single greatest impact upon our life, besides my own personal relationship with Christ, has been Godly mentors.
As we begin this year 2021. Let us set things right. It is possible through Christ alone.
Virjil Selvan is Pastoring the New Hope Community. The New Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that New Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
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