By: M. Munroe
The greatest secret to living effectively on earth is understanding the
principle and power of priorities. Life on earth holds no greater challenge
than the complicating daily demand of choosing among competing alternatives for
our limited time. Our life is the sum total of all the decisions we make every
day, and those decisions are determined by our priorities. How we use our time
every day eventually defines our lives. Life was designed to be simple, not
complicated, and the key to simplifying life is prioritization. So then, what
is the principle and concept of priority?
Priority is defined as: the principal thing, putting first things
first, establishing the most important thing, and primary focus. It is also
defined as placing highest value and worth upon. If our priorities determine
the quality of life and dictate all of our actions and behavior, then it is
essential that we understand and identify our priorities.
The greatest tragedy in life is not death but life without a
purpose—life with the wrong priorities. Moreover, life’s greatest failure is to
be successful in the wrong assignment. Success in life is measured by the
effective use of one’s time. Your time is important because your time is your
life. And the key to effective use of your time is establishing correct
priorities. First things first!
The principle of priority is important to the concept of the
Kingdom of God. Why? Because if priority is the essence of life, then we should
want to know what our priority in life should be so that we can live
effectively. It may surprise you to know that most of the people in the world
are driven by incorrect priorities that occupy and control their entire lives.
God established His priority at the beginning of creation and made it
clear by His own declaration to mankind. Jesus Christ came to earth and
reestablished God’s number-one priority. During His first discourse introducing
His primary message and mission, Jesus established God’s priority for all
mankind with several powerful and straightforward statements: “Therefore I tell
you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your
body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body
more important than clothes?” (Matt 6:25).
Jesus’ admonition to us not to worry implies that these basic needs for
maintenance should not be the primary motivator for human action. Our
confidence in our Creator’s obligation and commitment to sustain His creation
should lead us to transfer our priority from our basic human needs to the
priority of cultivating and maintaining a healthy relationship with His Kingdom
and with Himself.
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