Priorities are very important in life. I know I have learned a set of priorities that help keep my life in good working order and when those priorities get out of order, I find trouble...or trouble finds me. I was taught, and live by these order of priorities in order of importance. It has always kept me grounded and kept my life working quite well.
1) God- keeping Him as first priority keeps my life full of love, purpose, and guidelines that keep me grounded and driven.
2) Self and Family- Love yourself so you can love others. My family are my love in action. They are where I love to give and sow purpose into and help pass on to the next generation what I've have learned and to encourage to love God, and also have purpose.
3) Ministry/Work- I also love to put my hands to work. Work for the Lord, work for people, work to make a difference. We all work at something that we want to make a difference in this world and something that gives us purpose. This kind of work is so fulfilling. Even if you have a job that you have to go to to earn a living that doesn't fulfill the sense of purpose you need, get involved in church, group, or place to give of yourself. Put you faith in action. Fellowship with others to encourage one another to be better and to give more of yourselves.
When these priorities get out of order...then chaos or trouble arrises. If we make ourselves #1 then we make ourselves as gods and become consumed with ourselves only. No one wants to be around that type of person very long.
If we make our husband or children #1, then we can elevate our children as gods in our life. (I've actually seen this before having been a teacher for 11 years.) We think we are doing good and giving love, when in reality we are creating little monsters that believe that the sun and moon should rise and set with them and have no sense of reality (the real world).
Being in ministry, we have also been tempted at some points to put ministry up before its place. We all know the old stereotype of preacher's kids. Sometimes preachers can put ministry as #1 or even #2 before family. This in turn causes kids to act out in order to get the attention in priority they can feel they are due.
I'm sure you can come up with more examples of how a life out of order can be lived in many families and know the problems it can cause. I thank the Lord everyday for bringing this knowledge to my attention years ago and keeping me in order. We have not always been perfect, but we know when they get out of line, and we have some things to change.
Tomorrow part 2 of priorities...we talked about life priorities (that cover the big picture of life), but tomorrow I will share my thoughts on individualized priorities.
1) God- keeping Him as first priority keeps my life full of love, purpose, and guidelines that keep me grounded and driven.
2) Self and Family- Love yourself so you can love others. My family are my love in action. They are where I love to give and sow purpose into and help pass on to the next generation what I've have learned and to encourage to love God, and also have purpose.
3) Ministry/Work- I also love to put my hands to work. Work for the Lord, work for people, work to make a difference. We all work at something that we want to make a difference in this world and something that gives us purpose. This kind of work is so fulfilling. Even if you have a job that you have to go to to earn a living that doesn't fulfill the sense of purpose you need, get involved in church, group, or place to give of yourself. Put you faith in action. Fellowship with others to encourage one another to be better and to give more of yourselves.
When these priorities get out of order...then chaos or trouble arrises. If we make ourselves #1 then we make ourselves as gods and become consumed with ourselves only. No one wants to be around that type of person very long.
If we make our husband or children #1, then we can elevate our children as gods in our life. (I've actually seen this before having been a teacher for 11 years.) We think we are doing good and giving love, when in reality we are creating little monsters that believe that the sun and moon should rise and set with them and have no sense of reality (the real world).
Being in ministry, we have also been tempted at some points to put ministry up before its place. We all know the old stereotype of preacher's kids. Sometimes preachers can put ministry as #1 or even #2 before family. This in turn causes kids to act out in order to get the attention in priority they can feel they are due.
I'm sure you can come up with more examples of how a life out of order can be lived in many families and know the problems it can cause. I thank the Lord everyday for bringing this knowledge to my attention years ago and keeping me in order. We have not always been perfect, but we know when they get out of line, and we have some things to change.
Tomorrow part 2 of priorities...we talked about life priorities (that cover the big picture of life), but tomorrow I will share my thoughts on individualized priorities.
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