We rank things categorically by what we think is most important to us. In other words, we will always put emphasis upon what we deem as our supreme values. These values are innate with each of us. Our actions will demonstrate what our priorities are. In order to understand priorities and their importance, we must first begin to look at the ordering or disordering of the principles involved.
There are only two ways to live life. One is in an orderly fashion or the other is chaos. There is not a third alternative because there is no neutrality. Chaos, which is an inferior principle, can only be overcome by something which is superior to it. Order overcomes chaos wherever it is implemented. The Lord Jesus Christ expresses this truth in Luke 11:21-22, "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." Chaos cannot stand against the superior force of order.
This leads us to the concept of priorities. Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines "priority" as, "The state of being antecedent in time, or of preceding something else; as priority of birth...2. Precedence in place or rank..." Prioritizing is establishing a hierarchy. With a hierarchy, we are able to establish order. Prioritizing is putting things into their proper category based upon a standard. That standard for any of us will be either objective or subjective. If subjective, it will eventually be putting ordering principles in practice without understanding why you are doing it.
Is there an objective standard by which we can assure ourselves that our priorities are in their proper place or rank? We are in need of feedback. Exodus 20:1-2 reads, "And God spake all these words, saying, 2I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." In a hierarchal system, God is clearly the LORD and we rank under Him at all times.
Since God is above us, He has given us an objective standard which we are to order our lives upon. Exodus 20:3 says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." This is the First Commandment of the Ten Commandments. Without this first commandment being our highest priority of order, the rest cannot be put into practice no matter how hard one would try. This is because those not following the first commandment will seek to establish their own priority system. This system will not bring order but chaos because it is subjectively derived. This is because it is not based upon a firm foundation of objectivity.
To a great degree, the New Testament is a restatement of the Old Testament in somewhat different wording. An example of this is found in Matthew 6:31-34, "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Contained within these verses is the principle of priority.
The Lord Jesus Christ was telling His disciples that they were not to be anxious or worried in regard to their physical needs. This is what those who are outside the covenant of the Lord are concerned with. This is because their operating principle is chaos and not order because they have other gods before Him. The Lord said that our Heavenly Father was abundantly aware of our physical needs. In fact, He knows them before we do.
So the Lord Jesus then tells them to get their priorities straight by seeking first the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, which is what His objective law stated foremost in the Old Testament. Seeking first the kingdom of God is the positive side of the first commandment. Seeking first means that this is our top priority. Nothing else can superceded it. It is paramount. Only by doing this can we come into a proper order or ranking of things.
What are your priorities based upon? Will your hierarchy of priorities bring order and peace to your life, or chaos and confusion? Whether we are aware of it or not, our priorities have an effect upon every facet of our lives. This is why it is of the upmost importance that we align our priorities in the right order. The alternative can be devastating.
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