Problems with Priorities or Relationships?

If you have problems in your life, the most common result is a wrong order of priorities in your life. From time to time if you're at all like me, you can begin to feel guilty for not sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, or even worse begin to be so zealous you begin to compare yourself and tell others they are lukewarm and need to be witnessing. I've done both and both cases I had to be reminded of my God given priorities. Yes we are called to proclaim the gospel but that doesn't mean we don't with our family, our friends and then with strangers.

(The Adventures of Roman and Jorge)

"Most of us desire to live a well-balanced life. To this end it is important to realize that a man's life exists on two planes - horizontal and vertical. On the horizontal plane we relate to one another. On the vertical plane we relate to God. These two planes are on a fixed, center axis...The answer lies in correcting the vertical plane of our lives. A right relationship with God will affect every other relationship we have and, thus, bring the horizontal plane into balance." Pastor Chuck Smith

My Pastor Sam Allen often says "At the heart of every problem is a problem of the heart". How true he is, and when we have problems in this life they are most likely due to the priorities of our heart. As a Christian you must be sure you grow in your personal relationship with Christ. One of the best things I have found to help keep me on track is to have daily devotions and Bible scripture reading. As a Christian you need time alone with God daily.  Once you have a consuming love for God you will then begin to have a consuming love for others. We want to be an example, so we must back up our spoken witness with our life.

Not that I have it down perfect, but here's how I try to prioritize:
First I'm a Christian (Allow the Lord to lead in all areas of your life not just in sharing the gospel),
then a Husband (My wife needs to be encouraged and renewed with the gospel just as much as me),
a soon to be Father (The next generation needs the gospel just as much as ours does),
and lastly a Servant/Minister of God (Everyone needs Jesus, and to know the gospel).


1) Christian, a follower of Christ (Christianos)

The first duty of a Christian is to know God (1Jo 4:8).
The second duty of a Christian is to love God (Deu 6:5).
The third duty of a Christian is to serve God (Mat 6:24).

Matthew 22:36-40
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

 

2) Husband, of one wife (anēr)

The first duty of a Husband is to know God, and then dwell with his wife (1Pe 3:7).
The second duty of a Husband is to love God, and then to love his wife (Col 3:19).
The third duty of a Husband is to serve God, and then to provide for his wife (1Ti 5:8).

Ephesians 5:25-29
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

3) Father, one advanced in years, progenitor of a people (patēr)

The first duty of a Father is to know God, his wife, and then train his children (Eph 6:4).
The second duty of a Father is to love God, his wife, and then love his children (Col 3:21).
The third duty of a Father is to serve God, his wife, and then to teach his children (Deu 6:7).

Psalm 127 

1 Unless the LORD builds the house, ​​They labor in vain who build it; ​​Unless the LORD guards the city, ​​The watchman stays awake in vain .2 ​​It is vain for you to rise up early, ​​To sit up late, ​​To eat the bread of sorrows; ​​For so He gives His beloved sleep. 3 ​​Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, ​​The fruit of the womb is a reward .4 ​​Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, ​​So are the children of one’s youth. ​​Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; ​​They shall not be ashamed, ​​But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

4) Servant, an underrower, subordinate assistant (hypēretēs) / Minister, the servant of a king (diakonos)

The first duty of a Servant is to know God, his family, and then minister to others (Mat 20:25-26).
The second duty of a Servant is to love God, his family, and then love others (Mar 9:35).
The third duty of a Servant is to serve God, his family, and then serve others (Eph 6:5-8).

Colossians 3:22
22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

Read the post about being a servant from our November 2010 newsletter by clicking here.

May the following eBook encourage you in the further study of God's Word where the commands of God and the promises of His many blessings are found.  Click here to read: Christian Family Relationships an eBook by Pastor Chuck Smith.

Seek and save that which is lost and press on in Love,
Tim Molter, bondservant of Jesus

November 2010

Servant (The Greek word is doulos which means a bond-servant, a slave by choice, devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests)

Matthew 25:21 - "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'"

This verse really hit me hard when I realized that Jesus would not say to me, Well done good and faithful evangelist, Bible teacher, man of prayer, or any such thing. But what will He say? And what do we long to hear? "Well done, good and faithful servant". Are you a servant of Jesus Christ? If so, what is your motivation to do so?

2 Corinthians 9:7 - "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." God is wanting for us to be giving not only our resources cheerfully but also our time and defiantly in the way we serve. Imagine with me that your at one of your favorite restaurants and the food is tastefully wonderful, the atmosphere is alive and friendly, but the service was terrible. Would you really want to go back?

In the same way we are to give ourselves up to the will of Jesus Christ completely and those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing the Lord's cause among men. In essence the way we serve others reflects or lacks the reflection of the way we serve the Lord. We want to reflect Jesus in such as way that it will leave people wanting to come back to hear more about Jesus, and have a relationship with Him.

Colossians 3:22-24 - "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."

Just as we must obey your earthly boss or those in authority over us in everything we do, we want to make sure that we to please them all the time, and not just when they are watching us. The Lord would have us work hard and cheerfully at whatever we do, because we are really working for the Lord Jesus Christ rather than for people.

Matthew 20:25-28 - "But Jesus called them to Himself and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.'"

You know that in this world big corporations, governments, officials, and bosses are mostly tyrants, and make sure everyone else notices them and their power and status. But as followers of Jesus Christ it should be quite different. Jesus said that if we want to be a leader among our fellow brothers and sisters we must be their servant. Remember that Jesus came here not to be served but to serve others, and Jesus gave His life as a ransom for the whole world.

Matthew 23:11-12 - "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

If we desire to be greatly used by the Lord then we must be a servant. If we try to exalt ourselves will be humbled, and if you don't think so just wait. I have found that there is usually a big dose of humility right around the corner. However if we chose to humble ourselves will be exalted by the Lord Jesus Christ. Now if we think great I'll humble myself and then God will exalt me, think again. God will humble you, until your serving with the right heart, the right motivation, and the right attitude.

Revelation 19:10 - "And I [John] fell at his feet to worship him [an angel]. But he said to me, 'See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.'"

John fell down at the feet of the angel in the Book of Revelation when he was showed a vision while imprisoned in the island of Patmos, and tried to worship the angel. But the angel said to John, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!" Even angles are servants of God, just like you and me we are commanded to only worship God. Not people, not our spouse, not our money, not our pastor, not our Bible, but only to worship Jesus Christ.

Remember that as a bond-servants we should think of ourselves in terms of stewardship rather than ownership. May the love of Christ so flow forth from your life that people in your neighborhood, around your work, would just be touched by God's love as you become His instrument bearing His truth and His love to them.  May God be with you and keep you in the love of Jesus Christ to serve Him more cheerfully and faithfully.

Seek and save that which is lost and press on in Love,
Tim Molter