“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously.” Matthew 6:33
How in the world do I wisely arrange my days, hours, and minutes—coordinating schedules and responsibilities—and still find time to rest? There’s much to accomplish. As I find myself daily being attentive to both my family’s needs and my work schedule, I must stop and ask myself whether my days are reflecting my priorities.
Years ago, when I was a student, my ears perked up during a sermon in church when the pastor said, “There are only three things that are going to last in this world: God, His Word, and people.”
Right then I decided my life’s priorities. Little did that pastor know how much God would use him to help me make daily decisions and choices for the rest of my life. Why would I want to invest my time in anything that doesn’t matter? His words come back to me frequently and prompt me to consider my everyday priorities:
- Am I seeking the things of God above all else?
- Why would I want to invest my time and resources in anything that isn’t going to last?
- Are the things that are important to God important to me, no matter what my occupation, and do I work with God’s eternal mindset?
- Do I crave God’s Word, knowing it truly is sweeter than anything else?
- Do I live as salt among the people in my life, looking for ways God can use me to help create a thirst for Him in them?
This list helps me apply that pastor’s wisdom from the Bible to keep God, His Word, and people as top priorities. When we filter our schedules through this checklist of the heart, we can adjust our time according to God’s priorities for us.