Priority One

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

– Matthew 6:33

Many businesses these days like to tout their focus on sustainability — the practice of using resources responsibly, maintaining ecological balance, and ensuring the well-being of all … both for today and tomorrow. Likewise, governments around the world are changing their laws and policies to prioritize recycling, water conservation, renewable energy, and social equity.

But what about our personal priorities toward a valuable resource we can never renew: our time?

Everyone has a finite number of days to live on this planet. And what we do with them depends on our prime concerns and preferences. Some might live to travel the globe and find adventure. Others might live for pleasure, family, or friends. And some folks might seek true meaning by focusing on their careers or supporting worthy charities.

With so many choices before us, how can we best set our priorities?

The 2026 Olympic Winter Games are right around the corner, so let’s consider Eric Liddell’s story for guidance. Liddell was a Christ-follower who believed that everything in his life should be done to please God. Born in China, he looked forward to one day fulfilling his calling as a missionary. But before that, he planned to compete in the 1924 Paris Olympics as a runner.

All seemed well until Liddell learned that his big race was scheduled for a Sunday. But that troubled him. He believed that competing on the Lord’s Day was wrong and that it would dishonor the God he always sought to please. So, he stepped aside — seemingly disqualifying himself from a chance at fame by representing his country at the Games. 

Liddell’s priority was to put God first, whatever the cost. And needless to say, it was a priority that few others shared. It’s reported that even the Prince of Wales urged the young athlete to run in the Sunday track meet. But Liddell refused to compromise his principles.

Then the unexpected happened. Liddell was given the opportunity to race on another day. But the catch was that he had never trained for that particular event. Fans of the 1981 movie classic Chariots of Fire know what happened next: Liddell won the contest and claimed the cherished gold medal.

Now fast-forward to 2026, and it’s our turn to make some decisions. What are our priorities in life and what’s really important? As Christ-followers, we first need to seek God’s guidance if he hasn’t already answered those questions. It’s then that we take that next crucial step: the decision to honor God. And we also need to develop a plan of action. What are we willing to change to meet the goal? What’s negotiable? And finally, it’s time to deliver by running the race and seeing it through past the finish line.

Eric Liddell’s story is full of life lessons. And if there’s just one to adopt as our own, it’s that God will honor us when we decide to honor God.

Are you ready to set priorities for your daily walk of faith? Then let the race begin!

Soul Food

Because of this, since the day we heard about you, we have continued praying for you, asking God that you will know fully what he wants. We pray that you will also have great wisdom and understanding in spiritual things so that you will live the kind of life that honors and pleases the Lord in every way. You will produce fruit in every good work and grow in the knowledge of God.

– Colossians 1:9-10

What’s your idea of a great meal? 

For some folks, a grilled steak, baked potato, and salad always hit the spot. Others love pizza, Vietnamese, or seafood. There’s also Mediterranean, Asian, and dozens of other cuisines. And let’s not forget those who crave vegetarian.

People’s tastes and tastebuds vary widely, but it’s their hunger that unites them. However, there’s another kind of appetite that has nothing to do with cheeseburgers, fried chicken, and ice cream. It’s the spiritual hunger that’s hard-coded into our DNA. Inside, everyone has a gnawing desire to fill a gaping internal void. Some try in vain through negative pursuits such as drug use, alcohol, compulsive spending, or gambling. Others attempt to fill it by becoming workaholics or escaping reality through social media, video games, or even travel. But once the thrill is gone, the hunger always returns. Moreover, they’re never satisfied.

Jesus addressed this universal dilemma by proclaiming (and proving) himself to be the “food” that everyone craves. As we read in John 6:35:

“I am the bread that gives life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Spiritual hunger can be beneficial. In fact, we all need a drive — a certain level of intensity — to continue developing as Christ-followers. Our Creator has so many things for us to see, experience, and comprehend during our brief existence on Earth, and that’s how we grow and mature into Jesus’ likeness. How boring would our lives be if we already knew all the answers from Day 1?

Unfortunately, too many Believers experience stunted spiritual growth because they lack the intensity to continue seeking meaning in their lives. The solution is to mature by making the most of the people, places, and situations that God puts before us each day. And it's also up to you and me to continue developing our spiritual muscles through regular Bible study, prayer, worship, Small Group participation, and other positive habits. After all, there’s nothing like a good workout to whet one’s appetite — and then satisfy it with food for the soul.

Name-Dropping

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 

– Ephesians 4:15

The saying goes that it’s not what you know … it’s WHO you know that matters.

That’s especially true when a connection can help you obtain or accomplish something quickly and efficiently. For example, a call to the right person who already owes you a big favor might get you those tickets to that sold-out concert or sporting event. You might be able to get your child into the right school if you have a close friend in the admissions office. And that acquaintance who knows a mechanic who fixes vehicles on the side could get your car back on the road in no time — and for a price the dealership can’t beat.

Other scenarios involve name-dropping, or suggesting that you have a relationship with a celebrity, politician, or other notable. We do it at parties, at job interviews, and when we want to impress others. And while name-dropping can be annoying, sometimes it’s OK to brag a bit about our relationship to the right person. In the Bible, it’s actually encouraged in Psalm 16:8:

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

At Christianity’s core is our relationship with God through our faith in Jesus. Specifically, that connection is one of a child and their parent, which is made possible through Jesus’ death on the cross — a punishment we all rightly deserve for our lifetimes stained by personal failures and shortcomings (better known as sin). But since we’re connected with the right person (Jesus), he’s already paid the price to save us from a certain death and eternal punishment in hell.

God also wants us to be in close relationship with other Believers. That’s because we grow spiritually when we’re deeply connected to one another in Christ. After all, isolation can stunt our spiritual growth while loving connection strengthens it. Meanwhile, let’s not neglect our relationships with non-Believers — those personal connections that can help launch their own journeys of faith. That means introducing them to Jesus, sharing your own testimony about the Savior, and relating how his death on the cross 2,000 years ago means a whole new life today — and later into eternity.

How can you get the ball rolling?

One of the best ways is to pray for people by name. They can be family members, co-workers, neighbors, political leaders — and particularly your enemies. And don’t be surprised if God opens the circumstances where you become the answer to someone else’s prayers. Jesus set the example when he sent 12 of his disciples to nearby Jewish communities to spread the Good News (the Gospel):

“Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel,” he told them. “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”

As 21st century Believers, let’s be prepared to do some name-dropping whenever it’s needed to grow God’s kingdom. Because it’s not what you know, but WHO you know that matters.

Truth or Consequences

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers.

– Psalm 1:1-3

It sounds like something found deep in the jungles of Africa, the Amazon rainforest — or maybe even on another planet. It’s a carnivorous plant called the Venus fly trap, which grows wild in the bogs of North and South Carolina. 

Venus fly traps feast on flies and other insects, and their secret lies in their attractive colors and outstretched, nectar-scented pads. When an unsuspecting victim lands on the exotic plant, sensors prepare its trap to shut. But by intelligent design, it takes more than a single motion to spring the snare. It’s only after a second sensor is activated that the Venus fly trap grabs its prey within 0.1 seconds. Soon, powerful fluids fill the sprung trap, which dissolve the insect into usable nutrients. The cycle then resumes, with the plant re-opening its pads to repeat the lethal deception.

This illustrates an important lesson for Christ-followers: Although it might seem innocent at the time, we can suffer great harm from those who teach Scripture in ways that are inconsistent with God’s Word. That’s because false doctrine can lead Believers astray while misdirecting seekers from the biblical straight-and-narrow pathway toward salvation. Examples include pseudo-Christian tenets such as name-it-claim it, salvation by works, and legalism. One popular Atlanta-area pastor has also advocated unhitching the Old Testament from the Christian faith. And in recent years another familiar pastor/author has denied certain essential Christian beliefs. Declaring that “love wins” and that hell is just symbolic, he’s proclaimed that people worldwide will be saved in the end — even if they haven’t professed their faith Christ. Of course, Believers know through John 14:6 that Jesus disagrees:

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

The threat from bad doctrine is nothing new to Christ-followers. About 2,000 years ago, the apostle Paul addressed some of the false teachings of his day that were both confusing and upsetting to early believers in Jesus:

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you,” he wrote in Galatians 1:8, “let them be under God’s curse!”

The good news is that God’s truth is near to those who seek it. And Christ-followers have open access to it through the Bible, prayer — and even wise counsel from fellow Believers. We should therefore have less trouble than others with telling right from wrong and discerning the traps of false doctrine. It’s a vital lesson that underscores the importance of biblical literacy. What's more, it’s a reminder that our stability in life comes from being deeply rooted in God’s truth, not by merely being exposed to it.

A book, movie, TV series — or even a sermon — might be labeled Christian, but it’s no guarantee that you’ll find pure biblical truth through it. So, if you see or read something that seems inconsistent with Scripture, maybe it is. Check the Bible and ask a trusted Christian friend. And if that teaching is unbiblical, don’t follow it. But if it turns out to be legitimate, God could be using it to build your faith as you grow into the Believer he wants you to be.