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There is always an opportunity cost. In other words, when you say yes to spending your time and energy on something, you are saying no to something else.
When you add these responsibilities to raising children, serving in church, serving in the community, working a full time job, going to school. Whatever it is, you have competing priorities.
Now, you may be able to do a lot of these things simultaneously. But you may not be doing them to 100% of your ability. Our time is finite. We only have so much of it.
And we may have been raising children, we may have been tending to our sheep.
But we weren’t spending the time we should with our children. We were letting the sheep’s bedding get too high at times. Or my prayer time was impacted because of my tired wandering mind.
We needed to get some “relief.” We shut down our microgreens business. We sold our sheep. And we started working toward “relief.”
But there wasn’t a happy ending to this story. It wasn’t like we didn’t have other things come into our lives that wanted to compete for our time and attention. We constantly have competing priorities.
One of the fruits of the spirit is self-control. It takes self control to say “no” to something and keep the course laid out for you.
Let’s face it. It doesn’t take much sometimes to pull us off track. There is a reason why stores put products at the register for “impulse buys.” There is a reason why pop-up ads on the internet exist.
And sometimes these sidetracks are truly harmful and bad. But there are some that start with the best of intentions. Sometimes we see a need or have a desire that isn’t wrong. But it can displace us from where we need to be.
I have seen this in the ministry. Some people are so involved at helping other people that they neglect their family.
God isn’t going to call you into something that makes you neglect another calling he’s already given you such as being a spouse or parent.
As we look forward to 2026, we need to slow down and put priorities in the correct order of importance. The long-term goal of seeking God will overflow into the short-term as well.
It’s important to restrain from jumping out of his will because there is a loud voice or screaming priority that at face value seems to be heavy and desperate for our time and attention. We need to make sure minor issues in life are not replacing the major ones.
We should be making God our top priority and He will provide us with comfort and relief.
CHALLENGE: Make God Our Top Priority
Matthew 5-7 is the sermon on the mount. It is the first major speech after being baptized and fasting for forty days in the wilderness. It’s the longest teaching that we are given from Jesus.
I read it is one of the most quoted passages in all of scripture. And Christ covers a lot of topics in this sermon.
But he tells us our priority should be on heavenly possessions rather than earthly ones. And we are unable to serve both God and money. And he instructs us to not worry about the necessities of life. Instead, He says.
READ: Matthew : 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
This is a profound verse at the culmination of Christ’s teaching in chapter 6 underscores how we should order the competing priorities in our lives.
1) SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM
Christ tells us to seek first the kingdom. But what exactly is the “Kingdom.”
What is “The Kingdom?”
We know Christ stated in John when speaking to Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world.
The world we live in isn’t submitted to Christ. We still have injustice, sickness, murder, the list goes on.
As Christians we live as people who are reconciled to God in a world that is truly separated from him.
The kingdom of God is where he is reigning. And we can move as a body to make amazing things happen by and through Christ. But our citizenship and home is not of this world.
Although it isn’t of this world, the kingdom is present here and right now. We have a taste of it. We are a gathering of believers. And where two or three of us gather in his name, he is in our midst.
If we are in Christ, he is within us. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do his work. And we can access the throne room of God from anywhere.
The kingdom is here in some aspects. But it isn’t all complete just yet.
Imagine you’re building a house and you have the foundation laid, but you still are waiting on wood to be delivered to start building.
Now, that doesn’t mean you aren’t doing preparation work to ensure you’re ready for the wood to be delivered. But it does mean there is unfinished work. The house is there in part. But it isn’t whole yet. There is still work needed to complete it.
This is our current situation when it comes to “The Kingdom of God.” We are waiting for Christ’s second coming. The foundation has been laid for us. And we are in a preparation period as we await for Christ to return and complete the work that has begun.
What are Kingdom Priorities
If we are going to seek the kingdom first, we are going to make it the first priority. And Kingdom priorities are eternal. They are not perishable.
1) Kingdom Priorities Are Not of This World
We are not looking to prioritize money, material, or status. Instead, we are looking to prioritize eternal treasures. I did some research into the top new years resolutions. And one that kept coming up was saving money or spending less.
Now, there isn’t anything wrong with saving money. If done correctly, it can help us and it can be used as a tool to bless others. But it can also be used as a tool against us. We need to make sure our finances are put into their proper place.
Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The last line in verse 21 is key here. Where is your heart? Where is your time and energy being spent? Do you serve the demands of this world? Or do you serve the God who reigns above this world.
Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
It may seem a little crazy to some that Chick-fil-A closes on Sundays. They do it on purpose. It isn’t something they have to do. They are making a choice to give their employees a day of rest and time to spend with family or worship.
When it comes to fast food in the U.S., Chick-fil-A is the third largest chain by total sales each year. Only McDonald’s at number one and Starbucks at number two bring in more. The difference is scale. Starbucks has nearly 17,000 U.S. locations, and McDonald’s has nearly 14,000. Chick-fil-A has only about 3,100.
But when you compare sales per location, Chick-fil-A is in a class of its own. It averages about $7.32 million per store per year. McDonald’s averages about $3.94 million per store, which means Chick-fil-A is doing almost double per location. Starbucks averages about $1.86 million per store. Chick-fil-A is beating Subway, Chipotle, Wendy’s, and more on a per store basis, and they’re doing it while being closed on Sundays.
From a human perspective, that looks like a disadvantage. And yet they keep growing. God has supplied the increase.
It may sound counter intuitive to take a day of rest and close down your business. But if God has given you a family to provide for, He also gave them to you to be there and have a relationship with them as well.
What I’m saying isn’t easy. And I’m not saying we shouldn’t work. My brother just got me an ant farm for Christmas. And he has a plaque with Proverbs 6:6 coming because it is one of my favorite verses.
Proverbs 6:6: Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
The ant is a worker. God doesn’t call us to be lazy. But the Sabbath was made for man. Man wasn’t made for the Sabbath. In other words, it is good for you to rest.
The weight of finances along with other priorities in our life can truly weigh us down. But we need to rest in Jesus and release them.
All the money in our bank account belongs to God. All the days of our life belong to God. He knows the challenges we face. He knows what we stand in need of. And He is faithful and cares about each and everyone of us.
Kingdom Priorities Are Eternal
We should seek eternal kingdom priorities first. If we are focused on worshipping, obeying, and serving God, it’s going to radiate into our lives and the lives of those around us.
God is pleased when he sees us growing into the likeness of His son. And we should strive to be like him everyday.
Make Time for Your Relationship w/ God
And growing into the likeness of Christ is going to stem from spending time with him. We should be taking time to pray, read our bibles, and go to church.
I was doing the Bible Recap this past year. And there was a recap that really stuck out to me. If you have committed to meet a friend at 8am tomorrow morning for breakfast, you most likely are going to ensure you make it there in time. You are going to get up, get ready, and get out the door. But do we treat God in the same way? Or do we neglect to meet him everyday and spend time in His Word. Do we set time for God in the same way we would for a friend?
If your place to read is at your dining room table, are you going to show up as if God is sitting in the chair across from you expecting you to be there?
Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
The Word judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. You want direction in life? If you want to hear from God, go spend time with him. Scripture is the living word of God. It is a special revelation of God to us.
So when you are spending time in the word of God, you are investing in an eternal priority.
I know it is hard to put time aside to read. Everyday seems to go by faster and faster. But seek your relationship with God First.
Make Sure Your Are Obedient To His Purpose
Also, be obedient to His purpose for your life. Your identity is found in Him. God is your creator. You are His creation.
We are called to serve God and one another. If God has given you the gift of teaching, teach. If it is serving, serve. If it’s holding a door or sweeping a floor, do it.
If you don’t know what to do, there are plenty of opportunities right here. Just move out on faith.
I know it can become confusing at times. We have all wondered, “What does God want me to do?” OR “What is his plan for my life?”
I would encourage you to not get caught up on pausing a desire you have to serve God until you figure out your calling or spiritual gift.
Sometimes we get caught up in waiting for a big miraculous sign. Other times, God gives us signs and we don’t trust them and want another.
I would just say start moving. God will direct you.
And If you feel unprepared or scared to do it, keep in mind. God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the ones who are called.
Make serving God and fellow believers a top focus in your life.
Serve Others for the “Kingdom”
People are eternal priorities in our life. We should be serving others for the Kingdom. If you think about things outside of people, we’ve only been given them for a season. But people are eternal.
We are called as Christians to be there for the orphans and widows. We are called to show our love to everyone around us and be there for one another.
I love that we have a cards team and a meals team here at church. We want to serve those who are in need or encourage them.
The relationships we have are true treasures that bring us joy.
Have you been neglecting your relationship with others? Do you need to set aside time every week to focus on catching up with people who matter in your life?
The people in our lives should be treasured. If you are married and have a loving relationship with your wife, it is a blessing. Do you know how many people don’t even want their spouse around them?
Anyone that knows me, I’m lost when my wife isn’t around. It is a treasure to have a relationship that is well and good.
Take time for your children. Take time for your grandchildren. Take time for your friends and family. They are truly a blessing from God.
Some of our rewards are felt right here and now.
Do you not feel rewarded when serving someone in need? Is there not a sense of reward when simply just doing the right thing? If we see just one person turn their life over to Christ, it is reward enough.
These priorities are far more important than the car we drive or the home we live in.
Have you ever heard the saying that you will never see a U-haul behind a hearse? It’s true. You will not take any material things from this world into heaven.
But God can use you as an instrument in drawing someone to Christ. And the people we have in our lives can go with us to heaven. Is that not a miraculous treasure we should be focused on?
We should be there for one another. We should be encouraging and lifting each other up. We are a family of brothers and sisters in Christ who love one another and fill each other with joy.
Seek Kingdom Priorities First
Make sure you are seeking Kingdom Priorities First. Keep focus on the things in this world that are not temporary.
2) Seek First His Righteousness
But you can have someone who is all about the kingdom and not all about His righteousness. You need to have both. We are not seeking our own righteousness. We are seeking His.
What is “His Righteousness?”
We should be focused on building Godly Character. Now, we could really make a long list here of traits pertaining to God’s character. And I can tell you that we all will fail at times to live up to them.
But we should be seeking them first. We should choose to act out fruits of the spirit such as patience, kindness, goodness, and self control.
Romans 3:22: This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe.
The ability to be righteous has been given to us through faith because otherwise our works are worthless.
What are “Righteous Priorities?”
Righteous priorities are character building. We could work on our integrity. We could make sure to be faithful and loyal in all things. We also could find someone to help us be accountable.
Get involved in a bible study. Get involved in a ministry. Get around people who are going to help sharpen you. There is nothing wrong with seeking a mentor.
If we are in Christ, we have become a new creation. We are putting off our old ways of life and turning toward a new way of life.
And we should be building habits and exposing ourselves to people who will help in building those character traits.
One of the other top goals for New Years is losing weight and becoming healthier. We know there is importance to living healthier lives.
It’s why we see so many people setting it as a goal. If I own a gym, I’d be living for the revenue I gain in January. My brother-in-law takes a picture every year with carrots in our mouth. It started out because we were going on a diet. At this point, we buy the carrots for the picture. We don’t even eat them.
And I’m sure if you ask someone who has gone through a serious medical issue and has come out the other side, they know how much of a blessing it is.
It has value. But seeking godliness has more value.
Timothy 4:7-8: Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
Seek His Righteousness First
The character we have here on earth has value for the promises here today and the life to come.
3) All These Things Will Be Added Onto You
When Christ said, “All These Things Will Be Added Onto You.” He was directly referencing our essential needs. It wasn’t a reference to acting Godly and seeking eternity to win over the riches of this world.
We should be content and satisfied with the blessing we have around us and stop living anxiously because God is going to provide our needs.
So I am calling on you today to re-orient your priorities and time. I’m asking you to stop treating minor issues like they are the major ones.
Matthew 6:25-27: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life
You are valuable to God. And worrying can become detrimental. Sometimes, we can look at a situation we are facing and start making predictions or building scenarios that cause us to really struggle.
If you were fired from your job today, you will instantly have pressure on you. How am I going to pay my bills? How am I going to survive?
But God is right there with you. You need to move forward. You can release the stress and anxiety into His hands and find rest there.
Ephesians 6:12: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
We are in a spiritual war. Someone once told me about the concept of Satan’s yoke. If you are a Christian, Satan can not turn you against God.
But he can distract you from God. He will keep adding things to your plate to keep you busy. If you are busy focusing on the minor issues of life, you will be blinded to the major ones.
He can keep you from building a relationship with Christ, which will stall your growth in Godly Character. He can create wedges in your marriage to where you forget why you are even arguing with them.
In the Garden of Eden, Satan twisted the words of God. But there was some truth in the deceiving tactics he used. Sometimes there are priorities in life that are good. But they take us off of the path He wants for us.
As we go into 2026, take time to pray, read your bible, go to church, take time for family/friends, and serve others around you.
Make sure you are making God the top priority and do not worry about the necessities. He loves you. And he is the creator of all things. Make this your year of “relief.”