Putting First Things First

Feature 4 – September 2019 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Putting First Things First

The order in which a man arranges things in his life is a fairly accurate indication of his spiritual condition. The parable of the rich fool in Luke 12 tells the story of a man who, by his actions, gave evidence of what was of the greatest importance to him. He wanted to build bigger barns to store his possessions and then live comfortably when he retired. His selfishness and shortsighted way of thinking have been recorded as a warning to all. He said to himself, “‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there will I store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’” (Lk. 12:18-21 NKJV ).

This is not saying that it is wrong to plan for retirement. However, the man’s failure to place the safety and salvation of his soul as his first priority resulted in irretrievable loss. “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mk. 8:36).

The world views temporal and material things as of primary importance, while the Christian considers them as secondary. For the believer spiritual things are to be first, even though the world treats them as last. These opposing views are based on two entirely different value systems. The Lord’s teachings emphasize the need to arrange things in their proper order. With this in mind, let us consider a number of examples.

First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. — Matthew 5:24

God required of the Jews the best of their produce. Therefore, the Jew would bring his gift to the priest, who then presented it to the LORD on his behalf. It was the expression of the man’s praise to the LORD for His goodness. There were times, however, when on approaching the priest, the man with the offering would remember he had said or done something to offend a fellow Jew. What was he to do in that case?

God required that those who approached Him must be in a morally upright state. “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully” (Ps. 24:3-4). God had also been offended by his action, and the wrong needed to be made right. Therefore, the Lord commanded, “Leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Mt. 5:24).

This vital principle is just as applicable to Christians today, living in this day of grace. Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:30-32). James said, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (Jas. 5:16 KJV). When we are aware that we have caused offense but make no sincere effort at reconciliation, it is a dishonor to the Lord to sit and break bread. We are not to ignore the feelings of those we have injured or pretend that nothing has happened.

Connected with this, the Lord brought up a situation when someone has offended you. “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother” (Mt. 18:15 NKJV). This must be done in the spirit of humility (Gal. 6:1). Too often, the tendency is to broadcast the offense to everyone else first; but when the Lord’s instructions are followed, the matter may be settled “between you and him alone.” Reconciliation involves two parties: the offender who says, “I am sorry”; and the offended who says, “I forgive you.”

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. — Matthew 6:33

The Lord touched on a number of subjects as He spoke in Matthew 6: giving, praying, forgiving, fasting, laying up treasures, serving, and worry about temporal needs. Someone has written: “Worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair, it gives us something to do, but it gets us nowhere.” Worry is a heavy burden that many carry around wherever they go. It saps their spiritual energy and can even cause physical sickness such as ulcers, high blood pressure and other ailments. This anxious care moved the Lord to teach His disciples that since their heavenly Father knows their needs, they were not to be troubled about what to eat or drink, for He would provide for them. However, there were things that must be given priority in their lives: “the kingdom of God, and His righteousness.” By seeking these, the lesser things would be supplied.

When we pray, give and live righteously, we are helping to further His kingdom. This re-ordering of our priorities requires obedience as well as faith in a faithful God. When we take Him at His word, He will certainly keep His promises. An illustration of the important biblical teaching that certain things must be given priority over others is found in the book of Kings. It is in relation to the prophet Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. She was living in a time of famine with her only son. With her handful of flour and a little oil she was about to make their last meal and die. Then Elijah the prophet came and asked her for a little water and a piece of bread. Her reply showed one who was resigned to death: “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die” (1 Ki. 17:12). Elijah told her: “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first ... and afterward make some for yourself and your son” (v.13).

What would you or I have done? In spite of her predicament the widow followed Elijah’s instructions by first making him a cake from her meagre resources. The result was “she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry” (vv.15-16). God is no man’s debtor. When we put Him first, He will take care of all our needs.

First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. —Matthew 7:5

A critical and judgmental spirit has done great harm in the church, family and workplace. The Lord was invited to a meal at the home of Simon, a Pharisee. A woman, who was a harlot, came in and with tears streaming down her face kneeled behind the Lord and began to wash His feet with tears and dry them with her hair. When Simon saw it, he said within himself, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner” (Lk. 7:39). The moral of this story is that while Simon criticized her, he was unaware of his own spiritual bankruptcy. His self-righteousness had blinded his eyes.

A “plank” represents a glaring inconsistency in the one doing the criticizing, while the “speck” is something so small you have to look really closely to see it. This is usually the case with a critical and judgmental person. This negative attitude has destroyed marriages, done great harm to children, and has been the cause of stumbling to many in the church; and unless it is first judged, the Lord will judge those who act in this way. Hence the admonition: “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Mt. 7:1).

Jesus calls him a “hypocrite” who judges the “speck” in his brother’s eye and fails to recognize the “plank” in his own eye. When this principle of removing first the plank in his own eye is applied, then he will be able to see clearly to remove the speck from his brother’s eye. May the Lord help you and me to act first in humility and self-judgment in our interactions with one another.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it. — Luke 14:28

Any work we intend to do for the Lord must begin by counting the cost. It will involve giving up many things; and it will mean the use of our time, energy and resources. We must be prepared for whatever comes – be it discouragement, criticism or hardship. However, if it meets with God’s approval we can confidently move forward. The people of Noah’s generation left off building the tower of Babel because God did not approve of what they were doing.

To follow Christ is like building a tower – it is costly – and once we start out we are not to look back. Jesus said, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (9:62).

Why should we look back when Christ is in front? Like Paul, let us “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14), while “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). He is our Pattern and our Example. He counted the cost of redemption, but “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (v.2). He is the only One who could say to the Father, “I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (Jn. 17:4). Paul, as a faithful servant of Christ, could only say, “I have finished the race” (2 Tim. 4:7).

They first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. — 2 Corinthians 8:5

The sacrifice of the afflicted and poor churches of Macedonia in giving to alleviate the needs of their brethren puts us to shame. In their expression of love and fellowship, they gave even beyond their ability. Paul used it as an example to test the sincerity of the love of the Corinthians, who apparently had been slow to send their gift to the distressed saints at Jerusalem. While the example of the Macedonian saints is remarkable, it pales in comparison to that of the Lord Jesus, who, “though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (v.9). Let us, like the Macedonians, first give ourselves to the Lord. He wants our hearts first of all.

Before asking Simon Peter to feed His lambs and His sheep, the Lord challenged him, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” (Jn. 21:16). In Revelation 2 the Lord commended the Ephesians for their labors, but told them, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (v.4). That is to say, their love for Him, which was so on fire at the beginning, was growing cold. When He is first in our affections, our service will not become halfhearted or mechanical.

Two more examples will be enough to press home the point that there are things which, because of their importance, must be placed foremost in our lives. When Paul instructed Timothy on proper conduct in the church, he said of deacons, “But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons” (1 Tim. 3:10). Later, on the subject of widows, Paul said, “But if any widow have children, or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God” (5:4).

Conclusion
It is plain in the overall teaching of Scripture that the Lord wants us to adjust our priorities and put first things first. By doing so we demonstrate to the world around us that we live by a different set of values.

By Richard Barnett