Most Christians Have Been Doing This WRONG For Most Of Their Lives....

Refueling the Soul: Rethinking Our Priorities

For years, the blueprint for a Christian's life has been laid out in a seemingly unshakeable hierarchy:

God at the peak, followed by family, then work trailing behind. An unspoken doctrine we've adhered to, as if our spiritual and earthly duties could be neatly categorized like files in a cabinet. But what if this well-intentioned list, this sacred sequence we've been following, missed a crucial element? What if, in our earnest quest to prioritize rightly, we've overlooked the very vessel through which we express our love, service, and devotion: Ourselves.

Let's break it down, folks.

We're told to put God first – no arguments there. The Creator, the Alpha and Omega, deserves the preeminent spot in our lives. Scripture backs this up, with Matthew 22:37 urging us to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." It's clear; our relationship with God is paramount.

But then, traditionally, we're instructed to place our family next, sometimes with distinctions between spouse and family, and slot work in as a follow-up. It's a model preached from pulpits and praised in Christian circles.

However, it's time to question: Where do we fit into this equation? How can we pour into our spouse, our children, our ministry, or our vocation if our own well is dry?

The truth is, neglecting ourselves doesn't enrich our relationships with others or with God. It hampers them. If we're running on empty, how can we possibly give our best to those we love or the work we're called to do? It's akin to ignoring a warning light on your dashboard and expecting the vehicle to run efficiently. Sooner or later, you'll find yourself stranded on the side of the road, wishing you'd paid attention to the signs.

Scripture doesn't shy away from the importance of self-care and self-awareness. Mark 12:31 doesn't just instruct us to love our neighbors; it tells us to "love your neighbor as yourself." There's an implicit command here: You must love and care for yourself before you can truly love and care for others. This isn't about selfishness; it's about stewardship. It's recognizing that we're God's creation too, and taking care of this creation is as much a duty as caring for others.

Therefore, I propose a recalibration of our priorities:

1. God First: Our anchor and foundation.

2. Us Second: Ensuring our spiritual, physical, and emotional tanks are full.

3. Spouse Third: Nurturing the partnership that mirrors Christ's relationship with the Church.

4. Family Fourth: Strengthening the bonds that build His kingdom on Earth.

5. Work Fifth: Honoring God through our vocation, using our gifts to serve Him and His people.

This revised list isn't about diminishing the importance of family or work; it's about recognizing that our effectiveness in these areas is contingent upon our own well-being. It's a call to action for self-reflection and self-care, grounded in spiritual health. We're not just tasked with caring for others; we're also called to care for ourselves.

In conclusion, let's challenge the status quo. Let's place ourselves on the list, not out of selfishness, but out of a deep understanding that to serve others well, we must first ensure we are well. Let this be a call to action for all of us: to refill our tanks, to strengthen our relationship with God, and from that place of strength and fullness, to pour into the lives around us with more efficacy and joy than ever before.

It's time we reevaluate, reprioritize, and remember that in the grand tapestry of our Christian walk, we are not just the weavers; we are also the thread.

Here to serve….

Matthew Adams

P.S. Remember…MANY TIMES…throughout the Bible…Jesus went off by Himself to be with His Father.