Thirsty Thursdays: What Means the World to You?

What means the world to you? Where would you honestly say God and doing the will of God rank on your priority list? For many of us the answer may not be at the top. We place other things above whether it is career, success, money, popularity, etc. So we do what needs to be done to obtain these things in the meantime pushing God off to the side or the back. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be successful or pursuing certain aspirations but first and foremost should be pleasing God and doing his will. “Seek ye first thing kingdom of God and his righteousness…” Matthew 6:33. Our walk with God should be what is most important and we should not let anything get in the way of that.

In Haggai chapter 1 we read how the people put off rebuilding the house of the Lord. They were preoccupied with other things, “2These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house”. 3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” 5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much but harvested little, you eat but never have enough, you drink but never have your fill, you put on clothes but are not warm, you earn wages only to put them in a purse with holes in it...9 you expected much but see it turned out to be little. What you brought home I blew away. Why? Declares the Lord Almighty. Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.” Haggai 1:2-6, 9.

They had their priorities all mixed up. Everything was put before doing the will of God. All they set out to do and accomplish was falling short. Have you ever felt as if you were working so hard to achieve something but just didn’t quite get the results you were looking for? Chances are while working towards your goal you pushed God to the side and didn’t keep him at the forefront of your life.

“12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God…13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with you, “ declares the Lord...” Haggai 1:12-13. “ When they began to listen and do God’s will, things began to turn around instantly. “4 But now be strong, Zerbubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord, and work for I am with you, declares the Lord almighty…5 and my spirit remains among you, do not fear.” Haggai 2:4-5.

When we do God’s will and what is pleasing to him he blesses us abundantly. He can do more for us than we can ever imagine. Through all of our endeavors we must remember to keep God first. We can never get too busy for God or too preoccupied to do his will. As discussed in bible study Tuesday night, God wants us to have life and to have it more abundantly, but it is through him that we will be able to do such. A few verses in proverbs 16 that stood out to me while going over them were, “3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” and “9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps”. It is imperative to seek God and his righteousness FIRST. It is ok to have personal goals and aspirations but they cannot come before God. When we strive to do his will and it aligns with our plans, he will open doors, move mountains, create opportunities, send down blessings, it will make reaching what we set out for so much easier and worthwhile. Be strong in the Lord allow him to order your steps. What means the world to you? Where would you honestly say God and doing his will rank on your priority list? If it isn’t first some reevaluation and realignment is in order. Keep God first, “seek ye first the kingdom and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” Matthew 6:33

Stay Thirsty My Friends

Thirst Thursdays