Priorities

 PRIORITIES

“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” - Acts 6:4

For some time, I've tried to begin a new year with one word that captures my emphasis for the following twelve months. For 2023, the word is priorities.

We can't accomplish everything that we'd like to accomplish in life. There are just 24 hours in a day. The demands of work, family, church and home can easily drain us of our time. The fact is that we can't create more time. The best we can do is properly manage our use of available time.

The proper management of available time requires the setting and keeping of proper priorities. Setting priorities can be very simple. Yet most people can't articulate their priorities because they never given them any thought. Once priorities are set, keeping these priorities requires diligence and determination.

The apostles faced a crisis in Acts chapter 6. Grecian believers were complaining that the apostles had neglected them in the distribution of food. In response to the complaint, the apostles made it very clear that they were too busy to help them. The Bible says, “It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.” While the Grecian believers had a valid complaint, they needed to realize the time restraint that ministers face. Instead, the apostles were led to delegate responsibility. They appointed seven men to address this problem.

It is important to note that the apostles were not shrinking from responsibility, merely delegating certain tasks. Instead, the apostles set priorities for themselves. They said, “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” They set a high bar for themselves. Their priorities were simple, yet vital: prayer and the ministry of the Word.

In spite of temptations to do otherwise, I think it is important for ministers to follow the lead of the apostles. Along with family time, we need to keep prayer and the ministry of the Word as our greatest priorities. We have to guard these priorities, because it is easy to depart from them.

You may not be a preacher or evangelist, yet it is important to set and keep proper priorities. There will always be temptations to divert from these priorities, yet we must remain committed to them.

Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Notice He said for us to, “ … seek ye first the kingdom of God...” We need to keep first things first.

Let me suggest that you make two things a priority for the upcoming year. First of all, keep prayer a priority. Don't neglect your prayer-life. Let me testify for a moment. My greatest failures have come when I've neglected prayer. When I've failed to pray, God has brought overwhelming circumstances that have driven me to me knees. I wonder how many of these problems I could have avoided if I had prayed like I should. Join with me and learn from my mistakes. Keep prayer a priority.

Secondly, spend time in God's Word daily. Come to the spiritual dinner table every day and feast from God's Word. The Bible is food for the soul. The Bible will give you insight and wisdom. The Scriptures will keep you from mistakes and error. The Word is powerful and alive. Read the Bible to know its Author.

Like the apostles, I want to be faithful in keeping the right priorities. In 2023, I seek to give myself continually to prayer and the ministry of the Word. When the apostles kept these priorities, the Bible says, “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

Let's keep the Lord as our #1 priority in 2023.