Who's On First?

Do you often find it hard to make time for God? I know I do.  We have an entire universe of distractions at our disposal to come between us and God.  Now perhaps it’s easier to choose time with God over something as trivial as, say, video games or reading a blog. But what about things that are actually important?

A lot of people use a very logical important/urgent matrix that goes something like this.  Top priorities are things that are both important and urgent (time-sensitive).  Secondary priorities are things which may not be important, but are still urgent. Third are things which are not urgent, but are important. The last order being those things which are neither important nor urgent.  A very sound system for planning and time-management, but things start to become less clear-cut when God is considered.

Obviously God is important (it could be said He is the very definition of important). But the thing is, God’s everlasting…He’s not going anywhere. Neither is His love.  Nothing in all creation could possibly be more important than God, but with the above in mind, just about anything and everything starts to sound more urgent than God.  Spend all Sunday working on that big project for work instead of going to church, and God will still be there the next day. But spend all Monday praying and focusing on God instead of going to your job, and there’s a good chance your job won’t be there the next day. No matter how long you talk to your girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse/etc., God will still be there.  But spend all your time talking to God while barely acknowledging your significant other and see how long you remain significant.

Quite a critical conundrum. My answer to which is twofold.  Firstly, it is wise to remember that God put us here on this earth, and it is therefore important that we do not neglect our earthly lives…as long as we do not also neglect our spiritual life.  Second, and most importantly, I am reminded of Jesus’ life-shattering and life-empowering command: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mathew 6:33)

This is what faith is really all about.  Faith doesn’t mean believing God’s existence.  Faith is infinitely beyond simple belief to the point of absolute trust.  “I believe you,”…simplistic words, words that even an interrogator could say to a prisoner; but to say, “I trust you,” is a thousand times more meaningful—even spiritual.  We come to points in our lives where it feels as though to succeed in work, a relationship, or anything, we have to give it top priority, even if only for a little while.  This is where another of Jesus’ proverbs becomes handy: “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” We must never forget that all earthly constructs will come to an end someday, but the investments we make in God are eternal.  This is where we must choose God first, trusting that He will take care of the details…even if it seems the details will collapse around us if we don’t focus on them.  This isn’t something we can pledge in Sunday School; this is something we constantly have to remind ourselves to choose.  If work life cannot allow for investment in God, are we really in the environment God intends for us?  If our significant other is jealous of the attention we give to God, are we really with the right person in the first place?  God loves us, has a purpose for us, and knows better than any job or lover the path to our happiness. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”