I remember back in the day when I was single, and my friends and I would gather around for a slumber party. Painting our nails, eating junk food and talking about relationships.
Feeling like some relationship guru, I’d tell my girlfriends , “Girl, don’t make them a priority, when all you are to them is an option! You deserve better! blah blah blah.”
Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.
We’ve all heard the quote. We’ve related it to friendships and romantic relationships. Thinking that it is such wise advice.
Saying that we shouldn’t give our all to someone else, make them our priority or put them first…unless getting the same preferential treatment in return.
What if God felt that way about us?
Ouch. Ouch. Ouch!
What if he said, “I shouldn’t make them a priority when all I am to them is just an option. They don’t deserve anything from me. I’m done with them.”
God made us a priority from the beginning. He gave up his only son to brutally die for us and save us, and if that isn’t prioritizing us, I don’t know what is!
He loves us without conditions, no matter the sin, no matter our attitude, no matter how much time we spend away from him. He blesses us when we don’t deserve it. He doesn’t leave, no matter how bad we treat him. He never changes, never lies and never stops being perfect.
But how many times have we made God an option and not a priority?
Sometimes we put our depression and anxiety above God. Sometimes we put our significant other, spouse or family above God. Sometimes we put money or work above God. Sometimes we put our worry and fear above him. Sometimes we put our time above him.
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
The challenging thing is to love God with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind. That means rearranging our life so that everything we do reflects that God is our priority, even down to the thoughts that we think.
Jesus said that second, we must love our neighbors as we would love ourselves.
As Christians, we need to love others above ourselves. Make them a priority, even if we are just an option to them. That’s what makes us more like Jesus, loving people regardless of their treatment to us.
In the time we are living in, it can be so hard to love others. Especially with politics causing so much division and hatred. With social media roaring its ugly head and people getting on our absolute last nerve.
This is the time we need to stand up and remember that we love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19), no matter how hard it may be. No matter the condition, we love others unconditionally.
Love God. Love others.
Response Journal Questions:
1. What is it that you may be prioritizing above God?
2. How can I make him more of a priority in my life moving forward?
3. How can I love others better?
Pray with me!
Lord, I come to you and I ask you to forgive me. Forgive me for putting things above you. Help me to love you with all my heart, soul and mind. Help me to make you a priority and not just an option. There is nothing else I need more than you.
Reveal to me the ways that I need to love people better. Open my eyes to the way I can love on people and bless them. Help me to see others the way you see them. Thank you for loving me so much and sacrificing Jesus for me. Thank you for thinking I was worth it. I love you and I ask that you’d speak to me today.
In Jesus name, Amen.
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What great questions to begin the New year!