Priority

As a Believer, have you ever wondered what should be the first priority in relationship to being of use to others in the Kingdom of God?

The Church of Jesus Christ operates under the Truth revealed in God’s Word (at least it is supposed to) and goes about its business under the leadership of God’s Spirit. Suffice it to say the Church often fails to “get the job done.” Whether it is in caring for one another, reaching out to our communities and World, or sharing our faith with all of the people around us who so desperately need to hear the Gospel, the Church frequently comes out on the short end of accomplishment.

I am sure I know now one reason (there are undoubtedly many more). In 2 Corinthians 8:15 there is the example of a Church, that though poverty stricken, and experiencing a severe affliction of one sort or another, managed to be about the ministry of financially helping (and perhaps in other ways as well) other Churches, and, I am sure, their own community, and begged for the opportunity to do so. Not the sort of thing that is an every day occurrence in the life of most Churches.

The key to their desire is made abundantly clear. Paul states unequivocally that they exercised the first priority – “. . .they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God’s will.”

Doing the “will of God” is difficult to impossible if first we do not give ourselves to Him. It is out of that intimacy of heart and soul that we discover the specifics of His will in a matter, find the energizing  of the Spirit, the llove for one another that is the basis for ministry, and the Spiritual resources required to carry out that purpose with enthusiasm and joy.

It’s time to exercise priority. Give yourself to Him. . .completely.