Setting Our Priorities Straight

Setting our Priorities Straight

Take a moment to write down three things that you consider your topmost priorities in your life. Also write down the number of hours you spend on any given day on these activities that are mentioned – time spent on eating, sleeping, studying, working, with family, friends, social media, recreation, exercise, television, prayer, bible reading, at fellowship or church meetings etc. Now compare the second list with what you mentioned as top priorities, and you will be able to assess what your real priorities are.

We will look at the lives of some people from the bible to understand what their priorities in various situations were. By so doing, we will be able to learn some valuable lessons and thereby set our life’s priorities in order as well.

Abraham and Lot (Read Genesis 13:1-11)

• Relationships over Possessions

When God called Abram out of the land of Ur, Abram left everything behind, obeyed and followed after God, though he had no idea as to what was in store for him. Abram’s nephew Lot decided to go along with his uncle, and the outcome was that both Abram and Lot were blessed by God abundantly. However, at one point when both their livestock became numerous, there was a conflict that arose between the herdsmen of Lot and the herdsmen of Abram, as there was not enough room for them to graze their cattle. This was how Abram sorted this conflict with this nephew Lot.

We read in Genesis 13: 8-9, Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” (ESV)

Abram realized that strife between brothers was not a good thing and he clearly valued his relationship with Lot as far more important than lands and property. In his wisdom Abram realized that the time had come for them to part ways in order to maintain peace. Interestingly, Abram was the older person, the one who had been chosen and called by God to inherit the promise, but he willingly gave up his rights and allowed Lot to choose first.

Lot chose the plains of the Jordan based on what his physical eyes saw - the land was fertile and flourishing. What Lot did not foresee was that the land towards which he was moving was the land of Sodom that was filled with wickedness, and that God would soon destroy it. However, when Lot parted, the Lord re-assured Abram that everything he beheld to the north, south, east and west would be His, and will pass on to his descendants. The Lord took note of Abram for his willingness to give up his rights, and the outcome was bountiful blessings that Abram could not contain.

It is good for us to examine ourselves and see if we too prioritize relationships over material possessions and property. There are so many families divided, and cases pending in court, simply because someone was not willing to give up. When we prioritize relationships God will certainly bless us. May we always remember that possessions are good, but God had blessed us so that we could be a blessing to others. If ever there is a conflict of choice between possessions and relationships, let us remember that relationships should take preference.

Esau and Jacob (Read Genesis 25:27-34)

• Spiritual blessings over Fleshly Appetites

The sons of Isaac and Rebecca were twins, but both of them were so different in every way. They not only differed in looks, but also had different temperaments. Esau was a hunter a man of the wild, whereas Jacob was the homely kind who spent most of his time in tents.

We read in Genesis 25:29-34, “Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom. Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.” (ESV)

Esau returned back home after one of his hunting sprees to find that his brother Jacob was cooking some delicious stew. Famished and hungry, Esau requested his brother to give him some bread and lentil stew that he was cooking. Jacob took advantage of the situation and bargained with Esau to part with his birthright. The birthright for the eldest son in the family was an honor, and had numerous blessings attached to it. However, in that moment of hunger, Esau valued food over his birthright, and he sold his birthright to his younger brother Jacob. When Esau despised his birthright, and did not value it as he should, the consequence was that he eventually even lost the blessings that were due him from his father Isaac.