From birth, my parents worked hard to instill in me the understanding that God comes first no matter what. So much so that I was born on a Sunday and my parents were at Bible study three days later on Wednesday night. I played recreational sports, studied martial arts, and performed in theatrical and choral settings, but my parents always made a point to put God first. We told our coaches, instructors, and directors that Sundays and Wednesday nights were off limits. Those were the times that our local church body had set aside for worship and thus, we would be there as long as we were not sick to the point of contagion. We had people tell us that they committed to their sports team so they needed to miss Wednesday nights. My parent’s response was always, “But didn’t you commit to God too?” Our commitment to God is more important than anything else we will ever do. I believe this (in conjunction with our discussions on baptism and salvation) is the best lesson I learned from my parents.
We live in a world full of idols. I do not mean little gold statuettes or gilded cows. I am talking about anything that takes you and your thoughts away from God. These modern idols will be different from person to person, but their effect is the same. Our modern idols can look like sports, relationships, celebrities, food, technology, and more. What are we putting before God and do we even realize that this is what we are doing?
Put God before your spouse.
“But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.” 1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV
There is a hierarchy in our marriages. Yes, the man is the spiritual head of the household as Christ is the head of the church, but Christ is the head of every man. Wives, we must honor and be in submission to our husbands, but even more so to God. If our husbands decide that it is okay to forsake the assembly (Hebrews 10:24-25) in favor of a sports game, we still answer to God. Likewise, husbands are to maintain the faith even if their wives do not. Plain and simple, God is over all, even in marriage.
Put God before your family.
“Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” Luke 12:51-53 ESV
“Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:21-22 ESV
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26-27 ESV
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Ephesians 6:1 ESV
There is a price for following God and sometimes that means standing against those who are dearest to you. I know many who suddenly decided that certain sins are okay because they had a child or friend who decided to live a life according to the world instead of God. I understand fearing for their soul, but we do not get to decide what is right and wrong, nor can we change God’s mind. Just because you do not want to believe something does not mean it is not true. If those we love are not living in the Lord, we are not called to give in but to stand firm on God’s word no matter what others decide.
Put God before the world.
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4 ESV
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5 ESV
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 ESV
We may not realize that we have idols, but the world does. The people in your sphere of influence will see where your loyalty really lies. Even people who do not know you at all can see when you are choosing to put something before the God you claim to serve.
There are dozens of other passages that discuss how we are to put God before everything:
Before our legacy on earth.
- Matthew 6:33 Seek first His kingdom
- Matthew 13:44-46 Lay up your treasures in Heaven
Before our earthly desires.
- Matthew 10:38-39 Take up your cross daily
- Galatians 2:20 Live by faith for Him
- Matthew 6:24 You can only serve one master
- Exodus 20:3 Have no other gods before Him
- Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in Him and acknowledge Him in everything you do
Before our friends.
- Psalm 1:1-2 Stay away from ungodly influences
- 1 Corinthians 15:33 Bad company corrupts good morals
We are also given many examples of when God rewarded those who were faithful to Him: 1 Samuel 26:23, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Proverbs 28:20, Matthew 25:21, Revelation 2:10, John 15:5
You cannot change God’s mind or justify your actions to Him. You may be able to fool those around you with your speech, but God sees through it all. What good are your words if your actions do not back them up? True faithfulness to God is more than words:
“Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone;
for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,
those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,
our lips are with us; who is master over us?”
Psalm 12:1-4 ESV
“Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,
but a faithful man who can find?”
Proverbs 20:6 ESV
“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” Ephesians 4:25-27 ESV
God is the creator of all (Genesis 1-2). He sent His only son to die for us (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Hebrews 12:2). Who/What else is so deserving of your worship and praise that you forget the one who gives you everything and through whom is the only path to salvation (John 3:17, Acts 4:12)?
Luke Campbell, a bible student at Harding that has preached many great sermons for us said this past Sunday, “If God isn’t first on your list, He might as well not even be on it.”
Similarly, my husband Andrew has made the point that Satan does not need God to be last on our list, he just needs Him not to be first.
“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15 ESV
Very good article, Kaylynn!