The recently concluded Olympics demonstrated yet again an all-familiar concept. Being the first or having first dibs at anything positive is something most people strive for. Everyone wants to be in first place in class, competitions, and in other comparative rankings. Most seek to be unequaled in their skills, top-rated at their jobs and professions, pioneer innovative and revolutionary discoveries or movements, unearth foundational truths, proffer ground-breaking insights and solutions, travel first-class, live in the grandest houses, drive top-of-the-line cars, enjoy premier vacations, dining, and other luxurious experiences, be chosen above others for promotions, marriage, friendship, etc. The family and wife of the president of every nation are referred to as the “First Family” and “First Lady” respectively. Being or experiencing the first or prime of anything implies an air of exclusivity, disburses an allusion to desirability, and confers a sense of supremacy.
On this first day of the last quarter of the year, I am reminded of the commonly spoken phrase, “First things first,” a gentle but firm reminder to NOT major on the minors and minor on the majors, but to focus and prioritize the people and things that matter; those destiny-defining and refining non-negotiables that are pivotal to ending the year’s race and our life courses optimally. Life has a way of constantly trying to distract and detract from the things that matter most. This spiritual and psychological tug-of-war is one that we will continuously have to battle till our time on earth ends1, so it behooves us to master and constantly engage the requisite success strategies to attain and maintain our place on top of (NOT beneath or under) life’s circumstances.
As basic as this may seem, God is One Who also vies to be first; He desires to be supreme and foremost in our lives. This may seem strange or self-centered, given that He is already God and supreme over the universe. Such thinking fails to grasp the fact that God’s desires for humanity are for our benefit and not His. He is already self-existing, self-sufficient, and infinite, so He lacks nothing and if He did, would create it in an instant. His desire for our undivided attention, allegiance, and affection is born out of His monumental aspirations for us as His offspring; He knows that to live our best life, achieve our highest potential, and wholly fulfill our life’s purpose, we must (as a matter of life, breath, and death) be truly connected to Him through a personal relationship with His Son Jesus Christ.2 Anything less would be mediocre living at best or suicidal to our eternity at worst.
Here are a few reminders of the “God-first” injunctions that position us “God-style” for those premier, cream-of-the-crop lives we all aspire to …
… “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”3
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” 4
“If you love your father or mother more than you love Me, you are not worthy of being Mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than Me, you are not worthy of being Mine. 38 If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve Me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to Me, you’ll find both yourself and Me.” 5
” … but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son.” 6
Honor God with everything you own; give Him the first and the best. Then your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over (every dimension of your life will overflow with blessings from an uncontainable source …).7
“You must not have any other god but Me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods … You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse His name.” 8
” … Fear nothing and no one except YAHWEH, Commander of Angel Armies! Honor Him as holy. Be in awe before Him with deepest reverence! He will become for you a holy sanctuary of safety …” 9
Friend, these are but a few of many insights on how to hierarchize our Ultimate life’s Source and Reason for Living. God wants to be honored as first in your life so that you can be honored as the first in life! He desires to be reverenced and prioritized in your life so that you can be esteemed, highly ranked10, and extremely relevant in the lives of others.11 Remember His stark admonition – “I will honor those who honor Me, and those who despise Me will be considered insignificant.”12 Be sure to prioritize Him in this season and always, and watch Him elevate you to untold heights as you fulfill your destiny in God-and-grand style!
**For questions on how to get to know God personally, grow in love and in your relationship with Him, or for any other inquiries, please email: [email protected]**
Bibliography
- Job 5:7; Genesis 3:15; Galatians 5:17; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ↩︎
- John 1:4; 11:25; 5:24; Acts 17:28; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3; Psalms 36:9; Job 12:10; Pslam 66:9; 1 Samuel 25:29 ↩︎ ↩︎
- Matthew 22:37-38 ↩︎
- Matthew 6:33 ↩︎
- Matthew 10:37-39 ↩︎
- 1 Kings 17:13 (for broader contextual applicability, see Matthew 6:33; Proverbs 3:9-10; etc.) ↩︎
- Proverbs 3:9-10 ↩︎
- Exodus 20:3-4a; 7 ↩︎
- Isaiah 8:12b-14a ↩︎
- Deuteronomy 28:1-2 ↩︎
- Obadiah 1:21; Matthew 5:13-14; Isaiah 49:6 ↩︎
- 1 Samuel 2:30 ↩︎