What are you putting first?

Matthew 6:25-34 is a great passage to go too when you are anxious or worrying. Verse 33 is of particular significance to me — “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”

As I reflected on this passage in my morning devotionals, I looked at what my priorities are when it comes to the Kingdom of God. I know, you probably think a pastor’s priorities are focused on the Kingdom.

Well, not always.

Office requirements, visitations and sermon preparation start our list, then we have the unexpected events as well as the regular expectations of ministry. We also then add the needs of our families and their schedules. Quite frankly, I often think the pastor has the least opportunity to get his or her priorities straight.

In reflecting on what my priorities are, I realized that if I can’t get my priorities straight, then I am not being a very good example of what it means to be a Christ follower. I wonder what your conclusion would be if you reflected on the priorities in your life. Please bear in mind, I am not being accusatory or judgmental, I am concerned about what we as a people of God are putting first in our lives.

Christ told us the secret of success in following Him. The secret is to make the Kingdom the first on our life list. If I repeat a previous article that I have written, it probably means that that putting God first in all things is of the utmost importance. And it is.

In a little more than a month, we will be headlong into the Christmas season. You and I will be looking for the best shopping deals, the best deals for Christmas dinner and looking for ways to fill the Christmas list. We’ll be preparing our churches with decorating and pageant rehearsals. But in all of this, will our focus even be close to putting the Kingdom of God first?

Maybe, just maybe it’s time to switch up our priorities. Maybe it’s time to put the pursuit of God and His righteousness first and let everything else fall into place.

It’s time. It’s time to stop being afraid. It’s time to get out of the house and get to church. Don’t be lulled into the streamed worship that comes to you. GO to Church. Pursue God’s Kingdom.

Enough with the excuses and justifications. It’s time to go back to seeking God and His righteousness. There is too much going on for any of us to sit on the sidelines proclaiming our inability to help because of time constraints.

I am always amazed at the people who can sit through a blizzard watching a Packers game, yet won’t go to church if the furnace is off by one degree. If you make any event a priority, then nothing will stop you from attending that event.

So, make church that priority. Pursue the Kingdom. If you make a weekly list, put “go to church” at the top, then make sure it gets checked off. God wants you there, the congregation needs you there, and you need to get into the game.

Just a thought.

Shalom my friends. See you in church.

Rev. Kent Wilfong is the pastor at the United Methodist Church, Doniphan/Neelyville.