Jim's Jots and Tittles. . .

Priorities

The Bible is a book of priorities. That means choices are required of us. The word "priority" means coming before in order of importance, a precedence to time any preference in regard to privilege.

It is clear that God wants us to examine and monitor the things in life we value the most in demand our loyalty and dedication.

Jesus spoke about priorities in the sermon on the Mount. Jesus identifies priorities as one's treasures. In Matthew 6:19-21 – "do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break-in or steel. But lay up for yourselves in heaven… For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." In verse 33 he says – "but seek first his kingdom and his righteous's." Jesus was speaking of the coming King them, the church, to which the saved would be added.

In acts 4:12 the apostle Peter, after the church was established, stated the priority of one's salvation in Christ – "and there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among you, by which we must be saved."

Thus the should be no doubt about our priorities. In Colossians 3:1-3, Paul writes – "if then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

To know the Bible to know the way to heaven. We must know the Bible to make choices concerning our priorities. When we are not present to worship God and remember our saviors death, where have we chosen to be? What was our priority?

When we do not choose to be in a Bible class with other Christians sweep can edify one another, where have we chosen to be? What was our priority?

Hebrews 10:25 speaks of these choices and priorities – "not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but exhorting one another, and all the more, as you see the day drawing near."

When we have the opportunity to place our children in Bible classes with faithful teachers and do not do so, where have we chosen to be? What was our priority?

When we have time to study God's word but never take advantage of it, what have we chosen to do? Where is our priority?

Only eight souls were saved on the ark. All others were lost because of their priorities. Jesus said in Luke 17:27 – "They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all."

In verses 28 – 29 Jesus describes the priorities of those in Sodom – "they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building until it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all." They did not have time for God.

Are our priorities on things that please God or us? You can be sure that our priorities will determine where we will spend eternity. As Jesus said in Matthew 25:46 – "It will be eternal punishment or eternal life."

—Jim Hunt