First Things First

When was the last time you tried to change a habit or routine in your life? It’s difficult. Especially if the new thing you want to do isn't something you enjoy. If you were to begin going to the gym because you want to lose weight, but you hate going to the gym. Chances are your routine will burn out. If the doctor told you to be more active and you thought walking everyday before you go to work would do it because that’s the easiest option. There’s a strong possibility that you will hit the snooze button by the second week. The more days that go on, the harder it is to keep going. Ultimately it comes down to purpose. The successful person has the habit of doing the things failures don't like to do. They don't like doing them either, necessarily. But their disliking is subordinated to the strength of their purpose (E.M. Gray, The Common Denominator of Success).

You may not like getting up early. You may not like the inconvenience of the gym or the change in your habits. But if your purpose is a better version of yourself, then you’ll overcome that dislike to achieve your goals. But why don’t we do that with our faith? We hit snooze rather than spend the morning with God. We don’t lift our prayers to Him because we’d rather sit in front of the television. We don’t show love to the world around us because we’re always in a rush. The truth is, we aren’t the first people to deal with these issues. We see it all the way back in the Old Testament. Israel had just returned from exile. They began rebuilding their homes. But not the Temple of God. Fifteen years later, they still hadn’t rebuilt the temple. Their lives were comfortable. But the Lord came and spoke through the prophet Haggai saying “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’” Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways (Haggai 1:2-5 NIV).

The people of Israel had finished rebuilding their homes. They were well into their routines. But their connection to God was in ruins. Instead of rebuilding the temple, they made excuses that the time wasn’t right. We’re too busy. I needed the extra sleep. It came down to purpose. Purpose will drive success. And so God says that they need to consider what they're doing. The people of Israel needed to evaluate their lives and look at what was the top priority. Was it their comfort? Or was it their relationship with God? Maybe God is calling you to evaluate your life today. What purpose do you have for your faith? What’s the motivator? Evaluation is a good thing. That is why teachers give tests and employers hold job reviews. Socrates wrote: "The unexamined life is not worth living.” Each day we need to evaluate how we spend our time and our money, and how we use our talents. We should examine who we choose as friends, what we set as goals, and where we are going. If God is not first, guess who removed him from his rightful place (Rick Ezell, Putting First Things First- Haggai)?