There’s a saying that goes, “There’s no such thing as not enough time. People make time for the things that matter to them.” I wholeheartedly agree with this, but I’ve noticed something. It’s much easier to place our gaze outward to assess what others are communicating than to look in the mirror.  

So, take a moment. Let the truth of that quote settle over your plans for today. Over your priority list. Over this season. Ask yourself:

What are your thoughts centered on?

What are you stretching yourself for? Or avoiding?

What feels urgent?

What (or who) is going on the back burner?

Now this big question – Is the list of things that feel most weighty lining up with what you say you value most?

If not then, Houston, we have a problem.

Is the list of things that feel most weighty lining up with what you say you value most?

Our activities communicate our priorities, and that has major implications for our role as an image bearer for the Living God. It matters to our families. To dear friends. To our church families. And yes, to strangers who are watching us from a distance to examine what this whole “Christ follower thing” is all about.

Do you feel the pressure now? That’s good!

Sometimes we forget that we were made in God’s image, and that comes with responsibility. Our culture makes it easy to become distracted. But as people purchased and redeemed, our most important goal must be to reflect and represent what is most important to God.

After all, His actions certainly reflect what’s most important to Him. Let’s ponder this. What does God spend His time, talent and treasure on? 

Zephaniah 3:17 says he spends his time rejoicing and delighting in us:
“He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.” (NIV)

Ephesians 2:4-6 says He uses His capacity for lavish love, patient restraint, and unreasonable grace to bless our lives:
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

John 3:16 says He was willing to give what was most precious to His heart, for us:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

Dreaming of you, setting the stage for you, reaching and redeeming you, orchestrating purpose and life experiences for you is how He spends His time and resource. All of creation is a vehicle to reach us and express His amazing love, to extend hospitable care and nurture for us, to draw us in to healing only He can give.

What He does demonstrates that we are high on the list of most important things to Him. Can we say the same of Him based on our own actions and investments?

What He does demonstrates that we are high on the list of most important things to Him. Can we say the same of Him based on our own actions and investments?

Let’s take a moment to assess with some really practical questions. What are you really worshipping with your time, talent, and treasure? Where does it go? Make a list of these things.

What priorities are you communicating when you speak to your spouse or kids? When you choose to skip spending time in the Bible? When you hang onto bitterness? When you have to get that last word in?Do our actions truly reflect what we sing on Sunday? What we post on social platforms? Does it align with what we tell others we believe? Because talk is so easy, but actions speak louder.

Pray through the priorities of your life today. And ask God for wisdom and discipline as the Psalmist did when he cried out “Teach us to number our steps (Psalm 90:12 NASB).”

May the way we live and the things we prioritize truly reflect what matters most. And may Jesus be at the very top. If not, let’s make a commitment today to implement some change. Because after all He’s done for us, He is so deserving of that.