2005-10-07 - Priorities

Matthew 6:21 (NKJV) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Recently I glanced down at the carpet in front of our coffee table, where my husband lay on the floor with our dog Pierre, petting him. Pierre's body language demonstrated his complete trust, as well as a sense of safety and peace. He just had this incredible look of contentment on his face, and I thought, "Pierre has it right. This is what it's all about. He has a better sense of priorities than most human beings do. He knows that what it boils down to is love and relationships."

What are your priorities? Most of us would automatically say "family and friends." But do our actions match up with our words? What do you spend most of your non-working hours thinking about? What do you spend most of your time doing? Who do you spend the majority of your leisure time with?

Look at your checkbook entries for the last couple months. It's been said that one can tell one's priorities by observing where the money goes.

Do you live for work, or for your Lord and loved ones? I know that we all have to have money to put food on the table, but do you work longer hours than necessary? Do you shut out your family when your favorite TV shows are on? An occasional uninterrupted show is fine, but if there's a pattern of neglecting your family because of sports or another television broadcast, you need to rethink your priorities.

As Barbara Bush (wife of former USA president George Bush) said (and I am sure I'm not getting this exactly right), she puts her family first, because no one ends up on their deathbed wishing they had spent more time with their work, but many wish they had spent more time with their families.

I encourage you to ask God to show you where your priorities need to be realigned with His.

Comments or Questions?
Jan

jan@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org