God First, Family Second

Time – we are gifted with it…but not an overabundance of it.  What you do with your time means so much.  Many people know about the time value of money…little money invested over a long period of time yields greater results than a larger amount of money invested over a short period of time…longer invested, greater money.  I want us to apply that concept to time.  How do we spend our time?  What we do with our time means so much – the little things we do can have great rewards…if we do the right things with our time.  Little investments of time yield great results if we are using our time wisely. 

This is not my specialty.  I can’t say that I use my time all that wisely.  However, the Lord has really been working with me on this lately.  This message about time has been spoken to me through many different messengers over the past few weeks.  Today, is one more way that I am sharing how the Lord is working on me. 

John 6:25-33

The people are searching for Jesus…not because of the miracle, but because they were physically fed by Him.  That was important to them.  Jesus knows their motives just like He knows ours.  He takes the opportunity to tell them what is important.  He doesn’t tell them to quit work…but does tell them that they need to find out what will yield eternal rewards.  This is right before He explains that He is the bread of life…He brings eternal nourishment as they hunger and thirst for righteousness.

For me, Jesus is telling them to look at what is most important in their lives and He has the same message for us today.  Are they putting God first?!  They don’t know Him to put Him first.  If we don't know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we can't put Him first either.  I have been reminded of the commandment to “Love the Lord Your God with all Your Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength!” over and over.  We can’t do that if we are putting other things first.  How do we make small installments of our time to make a big impact for God?  How about our prayer time and devotional time?

How about prioritizing what we do according to what’s important and measuring all against that?  And if God is first, what is second?

If God is first, I believe our families are second!  How do we make installments of our time that will have a lasting impact with our family?  The “big” family vacation doesn’t do that…the rare, occasional things don’t do that…it takes a little time everyday with our spouses and children.  I have been spending a lot of time thinking about what is most important to me lately.  I think it is because one year ago, I was standing before you and preaching with a heart monitor on.  It was a wake up call for me to look at my priorities.  I was trying to do too many things and doing none of them well.  I was not making the best use of my time.  It reminded me that I can make small investments of time and make a big impact if I am doing the right things.  Spending time with God and with my family is most important in my life. 

What is most important to you?  You don’t get to go back and do it all again.  You don’t get time back.  So, how will you take the precious time you have been given and make the most of it?!