What are your priorities? Is it family? Is it job performance? Is it caring for those in need? Is it being at every worship service, Bible study, or other church function? Are your priorities your own or are they driven by someone else?
We can have several priorities and often they compete to be at the top of our list. It can be challenging at times to discern which one must be put before the other. However, there is someone who can help us set our priorities straight, if we make Him our top priority.
When Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume, there was at least one voice who complained about the expense. Perhaps others thought what the one said. But Jesus set the record straight. He was to be the priority, especially since He was about to go to the cross and would soon be leaving them.
Don’t misunderstand. Jesus was not saying we should not serve the poor. What He was saying is we should always make Him the priority, serving Him and thereby serving the poor. When we make Jesus our top priority and allow Him to be our guide, we will serve the poor but will also serve Him in other ways.
Service to Jesus is more than just serving the poor, though they are a part of it. It also includes serving our family, telling others about Jesus, trusting in His promises, and loving Him as much as He loves us. By making Jesus our top priority, all other priorities fall into place.
I pray we all seek to serve Jesus. I pray we ask Him to guide us through the long list of priorities. I pray we make Him our top priority, trusting in His promises, trust He will guide us, and love Him as much as He loves us. Seek to serve Jesus. Make Jesus your top priority. Trust Jesus. Love Jesus.
John 12:7-8 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
Marty Pressey 