September 14, 2007    

GETTING PRIORITIES IN ORDER

by Charles R. Swindoll

Philippians 1:27-30

Making right decisions amidst dilemmas forces us to rethink our priorities. Choosing right priorities forces us to reconsider the importance of Christ in our lives.

There are many voices these days. Some are loud, many are persuasive, and a few are downright convincing. It can be confusing. If you listen long enough you will be tempted to throw your faith to the winds, look out for number one, let your glands be your guide, and choose what is best for you. Initially you will get a rush of pleasure and satisfaction, no question. But ultimately you will wind up disappointed and disillusioned.

I am going to challenge you to keep an eternal perspective even though you are surrounded by a host of success-oriented individuals who are urging you to ignore your conscience and grab all you can now. You want joy? You really want what is best? Simply consider yourself having different priorities than your associates and go God’s way. His is the most reliable route to follow when life gets complicated. It will have its tough moments, but you will never regret it.

God will reward you for pressing on, for your faithfulness, and you will forget the pain, and, like never before, you will laugh!

Taken from Charles R. Swindoll, Day by Day with Charles Swindoll (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2000). Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

 Uniting Belief and Behavior -- Acts 24:14-16

            If we understand that we are sinners saved by grace, we may struggle with the idea of a "blameless conscience" (Acts 24:16). After all, we know our own hearts and motivations. Yet the apostle Paul found a way to ensure that his conscience commended rather than condemned him. What was his secret? Paying attention to his beliefs and his behavior.

            In Acts 24, Paul pleaded his case before the Roman governor Felix, offering the consistency of his faith and behavior as evidence of innocence. His actions were determined by his convictions--namely, that he served the God of his fathers, and God would raise the dead to judgment. Together, these two firm beliefs helped him maintain a clear conscience.

            As a student of Christ, Paul knew that our deeds flow from who we are on the inside. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus described conditions of the heart and illustrated with practical applications. He was saying His followers would be "the light of the world" because of their work, but the work begins in the heart (Matthew 5:14-16; Luke 6:45).

            Too often, Christians focus on doing the right things, rather than on the underlying beliefs that drive such behavior. We can give, serve, or in some other way act "good"; but unless we pay attention to the convictions motivating our actions, we may end up with an unclean conscience after all. If, however, we submit to God and allow Him to transform us from the inside out, then our consciences and our testimony will be strong and clear. We will be able to speak the truth with our deeds.

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            The Lord is to be the greatest passion of a believer's life. A person who claims to love God should give a relationship with Him priority over possessions, vocation, and even other relationships. Yet some people miss the true message of Psalm 37:4 because they focus only on the part that says they can get what they want. The qualifying statement attached to that promise is a call for devotion to God: "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart" (emphasis added).

            Believers can and should savor pleasures. The heavenly Father wants His children to use the resources He gives as a way to enjoy life (1 Timothy 6:17). For instance, God has made it possible for me to travel and photograph some beautiful places. But the key to enjoying life is to delight in Him above all else. God's rightful place is as Lord of our life; to give anything else that position puts us at risk.

            The human heart is naturally selfish and often destructive. Without God as top priority, we will likely be governed by the pursuit of earthly goods. But when He is our first love, those warped cravings are replaced by desires that fit His will and purpose for us.

            King David, a man who faced great tragedy and heartache, understood from experience that a heart devoted to the Lord also knows delight and blessing. Psalm 37 was his encouragement for us to seek God as diligently as he had done. Take David's words to heart, and let the Lord be your obsession. You will be amazed at how He will bless you.

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            God owns our treasure, regardless of what we consider "valuables." Material goods, talents, and time actually all belong to Him. Our responsibility is to manage and wisely invest whatever treasure He provides.

            And we are to help meet our own needs by using whatever the Lord provides from His unlimited "storehouse." For example, Philippians 4:19 tells us, "God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Some people interpret this as license to wait idly upon the Lord. But Scripture also speaks of laboring for six days and resting on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:9-10). Many of our basic needs are met through a job, so it's wise to invest our time and talents in gainful employment.

            Furthermore, the Lord wants us to use our resources to aid others, whether their poverty is financial, spiritual, or emotional. The best way to be helpful is by promoting God's work in our community and around the world. Jesus commanded that His followers preach the gospel and disciple newer believers. A portion of our time, talent, and money should be devoted to reaching the lost, because there is simply no greater need. The Lord's work also includes seeing that bodies are clothed, stomachs are full, and hearts are mended-- these, too, are worthy biblical causes.

            God's resources do not belong to us. The treasures He places in our hands should be held lightly and invested wisely. To be good managers of what the Lord has given to us, we must be willing to give easily.