Who has first place in your heart?

Who has first place in your heart?  What is priority one in your life?  Last Sunday we received Jesus’ command to “Seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).  By contrast, Revelation 2:4 paints the sad picture of a church that had lost its first love.  Secondary matters can be important, of course—such as working to put food on the table and clothes on our backs.  But they come second.  And when we treat secondary issues like primary concerns, it’s a catastrophe.

Jesus is teaching that to make material security our driving ambition reveals “little faith” (6:30).  To put it differently, a lifestyle that’s centered on your needs and your advancement and your success, and that hinges on achieving temporal, physical comforts and stability, is a lifestyle that fails to trust in Jesus and embrace what he most values.

Key question:  Is the honor of God a weighty reality for you?  Is the glory of Christ the North Star of your life?  Is the kingship of Jesus the axis around which your—and our—life revolves?

If, deep down, your answer is “No,” receive a dose of God’s soul-healing medicine from Psalm 62.  Over and over King David says “God alone”:  other things matter, but the sheer reality of an awesome God towers above them all.  “For God alone my soul waits in silence” (v 1).  “He alone is my rock and my salvation” (v 2).  Then David repeats these declarations in vv 5-6:  “God alone… he alone”!  After which he says in summary:  Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us (v 8).  At all times.

Since we’re tempted to measure our success over against that of other people, David adds that those of both “low estate” and “high estate” are virtually nothing compared to God—the poor and the rich are but “a breath” and “a delusion” (v 9).  The wonder of God is heavy, while the status of man is “lighter than a breath” (v 9).  Material wealth comes with an alarm:  “If riches increase, set not your heart on them” (v 10).  Instead, give your heart to the praise of our all-glorious God!

How foolish it would be to cherish the gift and snub the Giver!  Seek first God’s kingdom.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.  For his glory, and for your eternal joy!