PUTTING GOD FIRST

Putting God First.

I vividly remember how I struggled with the calling upon my life, before finally accepting that I had been called to be a Preacher. During those times, all that mattered to me was my political ambition, a good job, and the need to succeed in life. Who wouldn’t want  a well paid job with various allowances and enough money to secure his future? We all do! I was no exception! All I wanted to do was to first make it in life, before thinking about whatever plans it was, that God had for my life. I wanted my will to stand against His. However, that wasn’t the right way to go about my life.

Shortly after I thought I had my life planned out,  I came to realize without a doubt how relevant it is seek God’s purpose for my life.  Indeed, We must seek God first in all we and all other things will be added. In fact, when you give more relevance to the things of God, He would earnestly bless you with all other things that you desire (Matthew 6:33). What more can you ask for?

Just as it is written in Deuteronomy 6:4 that, The Lord our God is one and there is no other God than Him, so we must give Him the reverence He deserves and acknowledge His Omniscience. Any other desire or passion that you allow to take the place of God becomes the god of your life and that is likened to idolatry. Remember, we are to have no other god other than Him. So, why then must you give much preference to inanimate objects when He is capable of speaking them into your life? All He seeks is our attention.

I believe we have all been guilty of idolatry at various points in our lives, even without having knowledge of it. Those instances where we immediately reach for our phones, right after waking up in the morning, and having nothing to do with God. Or, the times we preferred to spend with friends and family over Him. But take note, God isn’t asking that we abandon our close relations nor avoid using phones. He needs us to recognize His place in our lives. The choices we make over Him draw us away and put Him at a second place in our lives.

Even as mere mortals, we get offended when the people we love give much preference to others over us. Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised that God feels same. After all, we were created in His image and are bound to share similar feelings. Also, in as much as the pleasures of this world appeal to us, we still need to recognize whom honor is due and do the needful.