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 As
someone has wisely noted, “life is governed by esteemed
values.” It’s what men consider important that
really counts in the ordering of personal priorities. Obviously,
not all consider the same things important. What one views as
trivial may be another’s treasure, and vice versa. But this
much is sure: no man ever treats his own “treasure” as a
trivial thing.
On
the contrary, one’s devotion to his special interests will
likely be conspicuously manifest, even when he might wish it
otherwise. As Jesus has said, “for where thy treasure is,
there will thy heart be also” (Matt. 6:21). Again, “for out
of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matt.
12:3b). The heart is where the treasure is and the mouth will
soon reveal where the heart is. Our priorities tell on us
because we like to tell about them. Sooner or later, the topic
of conversation will be centered on our interests — maybe not
with the enthusiasm of a golf or fishing “nut”, but like
ants at a picnic, they’ll keep on showing up. Our auditors
hear what we are concerned about. What do they hear? Is it ever
spiritual subjects? It may be enlightening to see a list of what
our friends consider to be our priorities. Chances are, they
wouldn’t be far off because if our conversations didn’t tell
on us, our schedules would.
Like
our speech, the employment of free time says much about our
interests. That’s why we always seem to find time for doing
what we want and seldom find time for the don’t-wants. Worse,
we may even become unconscious to making such distinctions —
even to the extent of habitually first doing
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what we want, then, if necessary,
invent excuses for our failures. Mostly, Christians with excuses
are just Christians with wrong priorities. Think, for instance,
of how Christians could redeem the time, not only by attending
Bible studies and worship, but by visiting the sick and weak and
teaching the lost. Yet, it is not unusual to hear of those who
put in more time watching TV in one or two evenings than on all
of these activities put together for a whole week! We ought to
be ashamed! — not for watching TV, but for neglecting the
other. Redeeming the time (Eph. 5:16) becomes an impossible task
without right priorities.
Finally,
the use made of financial resources says something about what we
consider important. In fact, some say it says most and loudest.
Anyway, like time and tongue, it does tell where the heart is
and its use can be a proof of love (2 Cor. 8:24). Certainly,
that which we profess to be the most important and urgent cause
on earth deserves to be supported accordingly, financially and
otherwise.
Remember,
our priorities do tell on us. And they always tell the truth!
The Lord hears what they say. The brethren hear. So does the
world. The real question is, do we? If so, we may conclude that
changes are needed. Not superficial changes that force external
“improvement”, but the kind that get to the heart of the
matter — the kind that come from facing up to our true
condition and real needs and make us see the need for the Lord
and seeking Him FIRST.
Dan S. Shipley
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