Our Priorities
Now Playing: What has been given importance in our lives ?
Topic: Priorities
Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Elijah
Scripture: 1 Kings 17:13-15

Me First?

1 Kings 17:13-15

"And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord God of Israel: 'The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.'" So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days."

Me First?

Our actions say a lot about our priorities. A woman married to a baseball coach for 34 years began to suspect that perhaps baseball meant more to him than she did. One particularly frustrating day, she decided to test his priorities and see if her suspicions were true. She asked, "Frank, would you miss my funeral to go to a ball game?" Calmly, her husband replied, "Roberta, what makes you think I'd schedule your funeral on the day of a game?"

Elijah was sent to stay with a widow in Zarephath. But before he entrusted himself to her, he wanted to know her priorities. The test was very simple. In the midst of dire need, he instructed her to make a small cake from her meager supplies and bring it to him first. By her actions she would reveal her priorities; by her priorities she would reveal her trust in God. Based on her gracious response, it's obvious that she passed with flying colors.

It's easy to do the right thing when there is enough for all. But that is not a good test of our priorities. Our true priorities become apparent when we're forced to make a sacrificial choice. No matter what we profess, our actions will confirm or deny whether we're able to trust the Lord in the face of need.

What do your actions say about your priorities? What do your priorities say about your trust in God? Are you able to trust the Lord and put others first? When you have your priorities straight, God takes care of the rest.

Actions are based on priorities and priorities are based on faith.

(from W. Kroll)