Priorities – What Should I Be Doing Now?
Should
I have priorities or simply do what I feel like doing at the time? Should I do
whatever my circumstances naturally bring, or are there certain things that I
should do regardless of the urgent pleas of my present situation? Should I be working 45 hours a week if, in doing so, it keeps me
from going to a good Bible study group? Should I work and go to school
at the same time if it means that not only my grades suffer but so does my
learning ability and health? Should I take 18 credit hours of classes at school
if it means I have little or no time left to grow spiritually because of all
the homework I have to do? Should I spend the whole weekend with my family or
girlfriend/boyfriend if it means missing all or most of the major Christian
activities with the campus Christian group? Should I get involved in a music
group if it means I won’t be able to be trained or get actively involved in a
good Christian group? Should I spend two or more hours a day working out to
stay physically fit if it means I have no time left to read my Bible and pray
daily? Should I be on the school athletic team since it consumes at least 25
hours a week of my time and hinders me from getting Christian training or from
training others spiritually? Should I go out doing fun/recreational activities
with my non-Christian or carnal Christian friends if it means missing a good,
spiritual Bible study group? Should I get involved in school club
events/activities if it means that I have little or no time left to actively
evangelize and follow-up new Christians? Should I get wrapped up in a lot of
church functions/activities if it means that I won’t have time to be built up
or get good training from a Christian group that specializes in developing spiritual
leaders? Study the following Bible passages to discover the answer to these
questions.
Mk. 12:28-33; Matt. 22:36-38 What
is the great and foremost commandment?
The great and
foremost command in the Bible is to “love the Lord our God with all our heart,
with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our
strength.” But do you know what this means or involves?
In order to love God
correctly, we need to know what this specifically means. First, what does the
word “love” mean here? “Love” means to be
committed to seeking and doing what’s best, right, and true according to
biblical values and standards to the one you love.
So to love
God with all our heart means to love Him with full sincerity of will or choice
(it’s to sincerely decide to give Him all we are).
Do you choose daily,
moment by moment and decision by decision, to give God your all?
Do you predetermine
to make God/Christ number one in your life?
Do you daily ask God
in prayer to give you a supreme love for Him and a corresponding complete
obedience to Him?
Do you check your
motives for doing so?
Are all of your time,
talents, treasure, and thoughts increasingly His each day?
Do you take time to
think through these questions regularly?
To love God
with all your soul means to have an intensity or fervency of feeling toward the
Lord.
Are you intense in
your commitment toward God?
Are you excited about
the Lord, as seen by your desiring (and
actually getting) to know Him through the time you commit to Bible reading,
meditation, and study, and by the time you spend communicating with Him in
prayer?
Do you enjoy talking
to Him in prayer and listening to Him as you read His Word?
Do you sing about or
to Him?
What tunes capture
your thoughts: sacred or secular?
How much of your
prayers are devoted to praising Him?
Do you verbally tell
Him that you love Him? If so, how often?
Do your actions
support your words?
Do you meditate on
the Psalms much, and make them a part of your thinking?
To love the
Lord with all our mind is to love Him thoughtfully or with understanding of intellect.
Do you think through
what the Bible says pleases God?
Or, do you think
through what the Bible states is how we are to love Him?
Do you then seek to
personally and conscientiously apply this information?
Have you analyzed why
you should be committed to seeking God’s best and making Him the top priority
of your life?
Do you meditate on
the things that God has done for you or promises to do for you? If so, how often?
Do you meditate on
who God is (His attributes, such as His
goodness, mercy, and grace)?
Do you regularly
think about why the Lord deserves your all?
How often do you
think about the things that God wants you to do specifically?
Areas
of your life that need to be changed or strengthened? Bad habits to be broken?
People
to be ministered to? People to be witnessed to?
Christians
to be counseled? Followed-up
spiritually? Trained
in spiritual leadership skills?
Physical needs that I
could help out in?
To
love the Lord with all your strength is to love Him (seek His best) with all
your energy or power of being.
Do
you diligently and enthusiastically serve Him day in and day out?
Really
serve Him with all you’ve got? Or,
does He just get your left-over, tired hours of the day?
Do
you serve Him faithfully and wholeheartedly day by day, or just when it’s
convenient?
Is
your love with zest and zeal or with slothfulness and indifference?
Do
you witness with enthusiasm or with drudgery?
Do
you follow-up spiritually new believers (even
when they’re not too responsive) with zeal or mechanically?
Do
you build up believers with all your energy or tiredly?
Do
you work hard at building friendships and relationships with people in order to
better minister to them, or do you let things slide?
Why?
Do
you work fervently at building up your own spiritual maturity or just when you
feel like it?
Are
all the things that you believe that God wants you to be doing, done heartily (i.e., studying, cooking, cleaning,
planning, telephoning new Christians or Bible study members, helping, etc.)?
Jn. 14:15, 21, 23; 1 Jn. 5:3 How
does a person love God/Jesus?
Since there are lots of commandments in God’s Word, the Bible, and since a person can generally do only one commandment at a time, how does a person know which command to do (be involved in) at any given moment (since in the doing of one command, he probably can’t give his time, attention, and energy to the doing of other commands at that point)?
For example, if you are
being hospitable to a group of traveling missionaries in your home by feeding
and sheltering them, then you can’t be out comforting a grieving Christian
somewhere else at the same time (who has
just lost a Christian loved one in death). Yet, both of these
activities/ministries are commands for us to keep (1 Pet. 4:9; 1 Thes.
First, what was Jesus’ purpose
here on earth, according to Lk. 19:9, 10; Mk. 1:38; 1 Tim. 1:15?
Second, what was Paul’s purpose
in life according to Gal. 1:15-17; 1 Cor. 9:16, 17; and Acts 9:15?
Third, what was Barnabas’ purpose
in life according to Acts 13:46, 47?
Fourth, what was Timothy’s
purpose in life according to 2 Tim. 3:10?
[Since Timothy was following Paul’s purpose, and Paul’s purpose in life
was to evangelize the world, then we see that Timothy’s was also.].
Does the command to Timothy in 2 Tim. 4:5 reinforce the fact that Timothy’s purpose in life was to do the work of an evangelist even though Timothy was the pastor in Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:3)?
Fifth, was evangelism of the world merely the life purpose of a select few Christian leaders or of all Christians?
Let’ s see. What does Paul
command all the Christians in the city of
And what was this “one purpose” that all the
Christians were to be intent on (give
eager attention or concentration to) according to the context of
[So, we see
that the “one purpose” of all the Christians at Philippi was to live holy while
“striving together for the faith of the gospel” (that is, evangelizing, as Dr. William
Hendriksen states on page 87 of New Testament Commentary – Philippians).
Evangelism was to be given eager attention to or concentrated upon as the
Christian’s purpose in life (Phil. 2:2 with
Sixth, was evangelism of the world only for
the Christians at
What does Jesus command His disciples to do according to Matt. 28:19, 20, as they are going?
[To make converts/believers/disciples means that he/she needs to
evangelize first.].
And what were Jesus’ disciples to teach their disciples/converts according to 28:20?
And what had Jesus just finished commanding them to do in 28:19?
[So, we see that one of Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples
before He ascended back to heaven was for them to make disciples/converts of
all nations (which would first necessitate evangelizing the nations), and then
to teach their converts to go and do likewise.].
Seventh, Christians are both seen imitating as well as commanded to imitate both Paul and the Lord Jesus’ purpose in life and conduct, 1 Thes. 1:6, 8; 2 Tim. 3:10; 4:5; 1 Cor. 11:1; 4:1, 16; Matt. 28:19, 20; (Phil. 4:9 with 4:3 and 1:7, 12, 16).
Do you see this happening in both the lives of the apostles and of the first-century Christians? Read the following passages and then summarize your conclusion.
Acts 2:5-11, 40, 41
3:11, 19
4:1, 4
8:1, 4, 5
10:34, 42, 43
11:1, 18-21
13:5-7, 12-16, 32, 38, 42-44, 49
14:1, 6, 7, 20-28
15:39-41
16:1-13, 17, 29-31
17:1-4, 10-15, 21, 22, 34
18:1-5, 11, 18, 23
19:8-10
20:1-6, 20, 21, 31
1 Cor.
Phil. 4:3, 9
Gal. 2:1, 9
Col. 1:5-7
2 Cor. 1:19
Eph. 4:11-13
1 Thes. 1:8;
2 Tim. 2:2
Rom.
So, we see that every Christian’s purpose in
life is to evangelize the lost/non-Christians and to build up believers, as he
himself would be growing into Christ-likeness both in character (Eph. 4:13;
Phil. 1:27) and in mission (1 Pet. 2:9; Phil. 1:27).
1 Pet. 1:1, 2; 2:9 Why did God choose certain people to become believers/Christians/a royal priesthood?
[God’s excellencies are both God’s character and actual deeds by
which He reveals it (i.e., by what God has done in bringing outsiders/sinners
into the enjoyment of God’s privileges/salvation) – A. Stibbs,
First Epistle General of Peter, p. 104. These Christian’s
conversion/obtaining salvation is a gracious and merciful dealing of God’s, and
in proclaiming this (“called from darkness into light”), they would share the
gospel/evangelize. So, God chose Christians/His chosen race for the purpose of
proclaiming His excellencies, which are demonstrated
in the gospel message (or a person’s conversion testimony).].
Are you proclaiming God’s excellencies (attributes and works) as the purpose of your life by evangelizing? Why?
Are you evangelizing regularly as a way of life?
Eph. 4:11, 12 Why did God give evangelists to His Church (all Christians)?
[So, we see
that God gave evangelists to equip/train all Christians so that they would
serve God in evangelizing the world and so build up the body of Christ
quantitatively, as pastor-teachers would build up the body of Christ
qualitatively.].
Are you making yourself available to be equipped/trained so that you will know how to effectively share your faith/the gospel with others? Why?
Or, are you too busy doing other things?
Are you showing your supreme love for God by evangelizing and building up believers as the top priority of your life?
Or, do you make excuses, like, “I’m too busy right now with other responsibilities and involvements”?
Are you putting schooling and homework ahead of evangelizing and building up believers?
Or, does your job/career rob you of your time to witness and build believers?
How about family ties and activities, do they keep you from sharing your faith and/or being equipped to train other Christians as the top priority of your life?
Or, is your involvement in sports preventing you from having any time left to witness/evangelize or be trained yourself so that you can train other Christians to live Christ-like lives?
Col. 3:1, 2 What should we keep seeking (striving earnestly for) and set/fix (center or concentrate) our minds on?
Are
you striving earnestly for and centering/concentrating your thoughts/life on
heavenly values and eternal things?
Or, are you caught up in: making money, hunting for a mate, getting straight “A’s” in school, weight-lifting, sports, TV, or computers?
Are you so wrapped up in cars, music, music groups or other hobbies that you have little or no time for glorifying God in winning people to Christ and then building them up spiritually?
Does God get your leftover minutes and tired moments because you are too busy chasing your own self-centered pursuits?
Or, does God get your prime time and full attention and energy? Why?
2 Tim. 2:4 What doesn’t a soldier do?
And why?
Are you entangled in school work, family activities, a girlfriend/boyfriend relation, making money, career/job, sports, music, cars, computers, hobbies, TV, so that God, evangelism, and building believers are squeezed out of your life or nearly so?
Do you spend more time, energy, and attention in any of the above entanglements than you do reading your Bible, praying, witnessing, being trained, helping new Christians grow spiritually, and/or building up and training Christians? Why?
If you say that God is your first/top priority in life, do you show it by loving Him through your obedience to evangelize and build up spiritually other believers?
[This is your God-given purpose in life and
thus should have top priority over everything and everybody else.].
So,
how do you know which of God’s commands you should be doing and how much time
you should devote to each of them? Make evangelizing and building Christians
your top goal/priority in life, and as you do, then
all the other commands will find their rightful place.
[And by all means, don’t waste your life
building huge bank accounts, huge muscles, huge homes, or huge wardrobes. Don’t
throw your life away chasing social relationships self-centeredly or being
engrossed in a sports-mania lifestyle, watching foolish TV programs, or playing
time-wasting video games. Rather, live for what will count for eternity (1 Cor.
Lk. 9:57-62 What
did Jesus say to the first person who volunteered to be a follower/disciple of
Christ?
[Jesus is telling this volunteer that if he is serious about being a disciple of His, then he will have to be willing to give up the security of material comforts, like a home (which even animals have).].
Is being a follower/disciple of Jesus more of a priority to you than material comforts (e.g., staying at home)? Why?
Are you willing to move out of your home in order to be trained by a spiritual Christian leader who can teach and equip you to train still others? Why?
What did Jesus tell the second potential follower/disciple, who made a request to bury his father?
[Jesus is
telling this person that he should let the (spiritually) dead (non-believer)
bury the (physically) dead (because it doesn’t necessitate a believer to do the
job of burying people; anyone can do that job). Instead, this potential follower/disciple
should do what only believers should do best and that is to evangelize the
world.].
Is your job or schooling a higher priority to you than following Jesus by evangelizing the world? Why?
Are you willing to quit your job and/or postpone or drop your schooling in order to be trained by a spiritual leader so you can evangelize the world and build up believers spiritually? Why?
What did Jesus tell the third person who volunteered to follow Him?
[Jesus is
telling this volunteer that once he decides to follow Him, he should not let
anything/anyone hinder him from following through on that decision, including
his family ties.].
Are you willing to leave your family in order to follow/be trained by a spiritual leader, who can train you to be an effective Christian for the Lord? Why?
And if you do move out and leave your family in order to be trained, do you plan to stick with that commitment? Why?
Lk.
Which is true of you? Why?
If
it’s following Jesus, how are you specifically demonstrating this?
Are
you willing to obey Christ in evangelizing (Matt.
28:19, 20) by first being trained/equipped to do so (Eph. 4:11, 12)? Why?
Lk.
Which
is a higher priority in your life? Why?
If
following Jesus is, how specifically are you showing it?
Are you willing to obey the Lord in evangelizing and building up and training believers by first being equipped to do so, by giving up everything (e.g., car, home, stereo, apartment, furniture, computer, etc.) that hinders you from being trained by a spiritual trainer, and why?
Mk. 10:28-30; Lk. 18:28-30 Who or what should have a higher priority: your home,
family, career, or following Jesus? Why?
How
will God reward those who put following Christ over their home, family, and
career/job?
Why
do so many Christians think that following Jesus means a life of poverty and
misery, when Christ doesn’t say that?
[Though being
persecuted will be a part of following Christ, the benefits and rewards far
out-weigh the disadvantages (Rom. 8:18; Phil. 1:29).].
Are you willing to be persecuted by family (Matt.
As a result of doing this study, what changes do you plan to make in your life and priorities? How soon? Why?
When do you plan to seek out a godly leader to train/equip you, so that you can more effectively fulfill your God-given purpose in life?
[Though Jesus
isn’t physically here to follow directly (like His original 12 did), we have
the teaching in Eph.
[So don’t
procrastinate or make excuses for not being trained just because Jesus isn’t
your personal trainer. God commands us to imitate godly, human leaders (1 Cor.
11:1;
How about you? Will your priorities be changing?