Priorities

[jmwhalen]

From "The Wizard of Oz"

Dorothy to the Scarecrow:

"How can you talk without a brain?"

Scarecrow:"Some people do a lot of talking without a brain".

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This truth is applicable to me. Being relatively new to these boards, I admit I have not made a good first impression, and for that I apologize to you all. Sometimes my heart is in the right place, but my brain is "out to lunch". Being in the financial services business, I, more than anyone, should know that people do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care. I forgot this biblical doctrine recently.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the master teacher. I notice He used parables constantly(parable-"side by side"). I feel more comfortable using analogies, so "here goes".

Did you ever notice that when we look at ourselves in the mirror, our perception of ourselves from a mirror is actually quite different from the "reality" a still photograph portrays? That is, our own perception of what we look like from a mirror is distorted and inaccurate. We really don't see ourselves "as we really are"(truth) from a mirror. Thus, only through the word of God and the Holy Spirit of God are we able to see ourselves as we really are. And only by the word of God and the Holy Spirit of God are will we see ourselves reflecting God's image.

I thank brother Wayne for caring enough about me to gently remind me of this-and he did this through the word. "When you are in a ditch, stop digging"! Hopefully I did not "bury" myself too deep with all you brothers and sisters in Christ.

I also hope you understand my motivation-to make known how wonderful a Saviour we all have in the Lord Jesus Christ, " In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace..."Eph. 1:7).

Pure grace is neither treating a person as they deserve, nor treating a person better than they deserve, but treating a person without the slightest reference to what they deserve. And this is the message of the cross of Christ that I want people to know and proclaim(preach). Pure grace, from the divine viewpoint, is love being expressed in measureless, spontaneous generosity-expecting nothing in return. Grace means that the giver takes the initiative to accomplish something for the recipient that they could not do for themselves. Grace speaks of the giver seeking out the recipient, rather than the recipient seeking out the giver.

If I have "muddled" this beautiful message of grace by my style, I again apologize.

Perhaps the below "Priorities" will edify and provide a perspective of "where I am coming from". I would appreciate any constructive criticism.

In Christ,

John M. Whalen

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Priorities

by John Whalen

The world "compartmentalizes" the LORD God in the priorities in life. The investment/business world refers to this as the "Wheel of Life", typically dividing priorities into broad classes such as, 1. Financial and Career, 2. Physical and Health, 3. Family and Home, 4. Mental and Educational, 5. Spiritual and Ethical, and 6. Social and Cultural. This idea is usually conveyed/pictured as a "pie chart". I provide the following quote from a sales seminar I attended that I feel best characterizes this view, which the Bible refers to as "...the spirit of the world...."(1 Corinthians 2:12), and is a trait of the unsaved, those who are "...in Adam..." and not "...in Christ...."(1 Corinthians 15:22), walking "...according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.... fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind...."(Ephesians 2:2,3):

"Your God-given potential gives you the right and responsibility to choose goals and set priorities in all areas of your life. That is why YOU is placed prominently in the center of the Wheel of Life. No one else knows which goals are most appropriate , and no one else should dictate your priorities.....You lose control over what happens to you if you allow decisions to be made for you by someone else". -from "Effective Personal Productivity", by Paul J. Meyer

What is wrong with"this picture"?

Everything, according to the word of God!

Notice that "I" is at the center of priorities. And notice the 5 "I"s of Isaiah 14:13, the sin of Satan, which has as it's root pride-a desire for independence and self-glory/self-exaltation instead of focusing on dependence on God and the exaltation of God to bring glory to him. The first sin , and all subsequent sins, was rebellion against authority-the imparted right to bring the power of another into operation-"Who gets to rule whom? Who is in charge? Who has the final say?" The primary trait of our sinful nature is thus self centered ness, or pride, as manifested in the sin of rebellion against authority, which is a satanic principle:

"...I will ascend into heaven....I will exalt my throne above the stars of God....I will set my throne upon the mount of the congregation....I will ascend above the heights of the clouds...I will be like the most High". Isaiah 14;13,14

" For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king." 1 Samuel 15:23

Pride is pre-occupation with self and focuses on the concerns of one's well-being, thoughts, interests, comforts, and pleasure. Reflect on the root of all the problems that are in the world now and in the past. That root is pride. Man's sinful nature, his "flesh", is in rebellion against God and his authority. Man's inherited sinful nature and inclination is to:

-rule his own life(independence):

"Shalt thou indeed reign over us?" Genesis 37:8(to Joseph)

"...Who made thee a prince and judge over us?" Exodus 2:14, Acts 7:27(to Moses)

"We will not have this man to reign over us". Luke 19:14(to the Lord Jesus Christ)

"We have no king but Caesar". John 19:15(to Pilate)

"...now make us a king to judge us like all nations....they said; Give us a king to judge us....And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them". 1 Samuel 8:5-7(to Samuel)

-collect treasures for himself

-praise his own strength and ability

-trust in his own wisdom, and not God and His wisdom as revealed in His written word(which is the only source for truth and authority)

"In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes". Judges 17:6, 21:25

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise". Proverbs 12:15

"All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits". Proverbs 16:2

"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts". Proverbs 21:2

" There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness". Proverbs 30:12

"Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight"! Isaiah 5:21

Jeremiah 9:23,24 answers these characteristics of the proud person, the focus on "I", as it is written:

" Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD".

Riches, fame, power, pride of owning "stuff", physical beauty, career ambition, etc., are priorities that the Bible terms as the affections and the lust of the flesh(Galatians 5:16,5:24; Ephesians 2:3, 4:22; 1 Timothy 6:9; 2 Timothy 2:22, 3:6; Titus 3:3), "worldly lusts"(Titus 2:12), and are contrary to the Spirit of God(Galatians 5:16,17), as it is written:

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world". 1 John 2:15,16

"...And be not conformed to this world...." Romans 12:2

" If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God". Colossians 3:1-3

None of these " worldly priorities" give our lives any purpose and meaning-nor can we find any eternal satisfaction in them, for "...the eyes of man are never satisfied"(Proverbs 27:20).

Regarding our purpose and meaning, understand that God's definition of purpose/meaning, or "success" is opposed to man's definition of success. Man's conception of success perhaps is best summarized by the old saying"eat, drink, and be merry", or by the apostle Paul's conclusion (if there is no resurrection) "...let us eat and drink...."(1 Cor. 15:32), the commercials "Rock on!", or "go for all the gusto". Man spends almost every waking moment attempting to achieve this end, this "success"- on seeking that which pleases the flesh, on focusing on how much he can gather during his short stay on earth. This is man's idea of "success", of "accomplishment".

The world bombards us with the message "Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps", "Make something of yourself", "Get Ahead"............................ You may ask, "What could be wrong with this"? And the reason most ask this question(instead of asking "Is this right?") is that most have been "brainwashed", deceived by Satan, "...the god of this world....(2 Corinthians 4:4), "...the prince of this world....(John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11), "... the prince of the power of the air....(Ephesians 2:2), with this message all their life, primarily through the medium of television(did you ever think about the purpose of TV: to get you to want something you do not have, through advertising/commercials?=covetousness-read Colossians 3:5). Is not it important to "climb the corporate ladder", "make something out of myself"?

According to the LORD God of the Bible, there is everything wrong with you("I") trying to make something out of yourself. In the eyes of the LORD, the only success He considers worthy of mentioning is that which He makes a success in and through you for His glory, and only as it is relative to and "...concerning his Son Jesus Christ....(Romans 1:3).

We read in the first chapter of Genesis that God created man in His own image, i.e., man was created to reflect the glory of God. The glory of God centers on who He is and what He does-it is the true demonstration of His character, His attributes, His moral purity and perfection. This glory of God is revealed when we see His mercy, grace, love, kindness, forbearance, righteousness, holiness(the most prominent attribute of God's character as revealed in His word-not love)...........Therefore, when the Bible testifies that the LORD God created man "...for my glory...."(Isaiah 43:7), this means that man was created to be the vessel, the channel, by which and through which God would display His glory- we were made to reflect the greatness of God(not us) through our praise of Him, our exaltation of Him, our satisfaction in Him, our believing what He says, our dependence on Him, our faithfulness to Him, and understanding that He can satisfy our needs and desires far better than we can, and that He Himself is ultimately the satisfaction of our needs and desires. .

Adam rebelled when he took delight in his own wisdom("...ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil"(Genesis 3:5), declared independence from God, and doubted God's goodness, and thus belittled the glory of God-when he sinned, he stopped reflecting God's glory, and thus the purpose for which he was created. And since this time Adam's sin has been passed on to all, for "And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness..."(Gen. 5:3), and is termed in the Bible as "...in Adam...."(1 Cor. 15:22). Paul expounds upon this theme when he says:

"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God". Romans 3:23

The glory of God also refers to God's exalted standing, reputation, value, or esteem in other people's eyes(see Jeremiah 13:11). We glorify God when we acknowledge, by words or actions, that He is more important than we are, and that what he wants is more important than what we want, i.e., His will be done, not ours. This should be the abiding principle of our lives-choosing His way rather than our way.

When someone tells me "I do not have enough time", I wonder if the person who says this realizes that almost everyone says "I do not have enough time". It seems that nobody has enough time. Ponder this: What if God were to say to me, "I do not have enough/any time for you". There is never "enough time"-there is always more that we want to do than there is time to do it. Glorifying God means setting aside what we want to do, or feel that "we need to do", in order to do what the LORD God wants us to do. And part of this is getting to know Him through His word-his revelation of Himself to us. This means setting priorities-making God's glory your main priority, even if that means separating yourself from the hustle/bustle and time pressures of this fast-paced world to spend time with God-worshipping Him,praising Him, thanking Him, walking with Him. Is not God Himself much more important than the things of the world which He created? Is not God Himself more important than anything we can do for Him? True, sometimes we display His importance by what we try to do for Him, but always we should demonstrate his value to us by choosing to walk in fellowship with Him. What is your priority?

Nobody seems to have enough time, money (ever notice that this includes millionaires?), entertainment..............Glorifying God means relying on Him, trusting in Him, not only for our salvation, but for satisfying our needs. Viewed in this light, the "tribulations"(tribulation in the Bible means "pressure") we face are should not be disheartening. Rather, they are an opportunity to glorify God in a way that we could not before. Is not it easy to trust God, or at least say you do, when you have a lot of money, good health, good family, etc.? But are not you placing Him in higher esteem, glorifying Him more when you thank Him, praise Him,and worship Him, when you are in difficulty and pain? Did not the Lord Jesus Christ praise His Father in heaven even when He was on the cross? It is no great feat to give God your time when you have "a lot of it", but you exalt him higher when you give Him time while you feel absolutely crushed by the seemingly un endless, urgent demands surrounding you. What is your priority?

The ultimate demonstration of His glory is demonstrated in the attributes of His love and righteousness as displayed at Calvary. He sent "...his only begotten Son...."(John 3:16), the Lord Jesus Christ, to both vindicate the Father's name(Romans 3:24-26), and to pay for the wages of sin, which is death(Romans 6:23), by dieing in our place for our sins(Romans 5:8, 1 Cor. 15:3, Galatians 1:14).

The "ultimate" success, the Lord Jesus Christ, was a success on earth for one reason: He gave Himself unreservedly to be used of His Father for His glory:

" Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name...." John 12:27,28

" I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do". John 17:4

"Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work". John 4:34

The Lord Jesus Christ's joy was knowing that he was finishing the work His Father had given Him-he delighted in doing His Father's will(Psalms 40:8,Matthew 26:39, Hebrews 10:7), all for the glory of God. It was not just His duty, His obligation(definition of religion, by the way)- it was His food, His delight, to do the work His Father had given Him-and that work was to glorify His heavenly Father. The Lord Jesus Christ on earth, by his own admission, did nothing of His own volition:

"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works". John 14:10

True success is no different than it was for the Lord Jesus Christ, when He humbled himself and allowed the Father to work in Him and through Him for 33 years on earth, depending on His father for everything, and all for one end-the glory of God. We are only a true success when we are used as vessels to outwardly display the life of Christ in us to a dieing, cursed, sinful world, all to the glory of God. It is not "...I , but Christ liveth in me..."(Galatians 2:20, Romans 8:10, 2 Corinthians 13:5, Ephesians 3:17, Colossians 1:27) is doing this through us, "...all to the glory of God"(1 Corinthians 10:31), which we do "..all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him"(Colossians 3:17). God is glorified when "I" stays in the background. The apostle Paul stated this truth this way:

" According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death". Philippians 1:20 .

This is the only time we are successful-anything we do apart from Christ doing it in us and through us for God's glory is nothing. "I" is not the issue. The issue is spreading His glory. Notice that in glorifying/magnifying God, Paul found a worthy reason for living that transcended death, and tells us, in no uncertain terms, that glorifying God should be the goal of our life:

.

" For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's". 1 Corinthians 6:20

" Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God". 1 Corinthians 10:31

Paul places God's glory as the motivation, the touchstone, by which we should decide what we do. When a purpose is your rationale or basis for what should be done or not done, it is"de facto"( De facto is a Latin expression that means "in fact" or "in practice", commonly used as opposed to de jure [meaning "by law"] when referring to matters of law or governance or technique [such as standards], that are found in the common experience as created or developed without or against a regulation) what you live for. For example, when you decide your actions by what will bring you the most money, you are living for money. Paul, then, is telling us that we should be living to glorify God.

This is an alien concept in a world that seeks to place man and his needs above God, whether that is the secular world promoting a "social gospel", or the so-called Christian world that promotes a "prosperity gospel"-both are focused on "pampering the flesh", and not on bringing glory to God through the gospel of Christ.

The Bible's testimony is also clear that the LORD God is the only source of real joy and meaning in life-He is the giver of life, the sustainer of life, and the fulfiller of life-He is life. Only in Him can a man be satisfied, and only in Him does man find life and meaning.(Psalms 37:4, 145:15-19; Ecclesiastes 2:11; John 10:10, 17:3). And He has created us to find true joy and satisfaction only in Him through a relationship with Himself. As we seek to place Him at the center of our lives, above our family, above our friends, above our jobs, above our material possessions, and, most importantly, above ourselves("I"), and not place him in a "compartment" to be visited once a week at "church", as we seek to live for His glory, our lives take on real purpose and significance, and we experience real joy, "...joy in the LORD...."(Isaiah 29:13).

You cannot have a relationship with God unless you know Him. Think on this. How can I have a relationship with my dad if I do not know him? How can I have a relationship with Greg Preas, Teri Preas, Preston Preas, Kennedey Preas, Mike Arnold, Dani Arnold, Eric Arnold, Christopher Arnold, Mark Lyons, Dawn Lyons, Gary Ricks, John Garmany, Jerry Lockhart..........., if I do not know them? I cannot. Likewise, I cannot have a relationship with God if I do not know Him. And you cannot know the LORD God apart from His revelation of Himself in the written word, and the revelation of Himself in the living word-the Lord Jesus Christ.

The main purpose of salvation , according to scripture, is God's glory. One of the "means to an end" of salvation is eternal life:Jn 3:15,16, 3:36,4:14,5:24-29,5:39-49,6:33,6:40.10:28,11:25-26,14:6,17:2-3,; Acts 13:46; Romans 5:9-10, 5:17-18,5:21, 6:22-23, 11:14-15; 2 Tim. 1:1, 1:8-10,Hebrews 5:8-9). And one of the goals of eternal life is so that we might have all eternity to know the one true God and His glorious Son, the "...Lord of glory...."(1 Cor. 2:8), the Lord Jesus Christ:

"These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent". John 17:1-3

This is a constant theme-read Romans 11:33, Eph, 3:17-19. The knowledge of God as a purpose for man, with the ultimate "end" of this goal being God's glory is all throughout scripture. Read Isaiah 11:9, Hab 2:14,, Jeremiah 31:34.

I ask all believers, and non-believers: "What is your priority"? What do you delight in? What do you find yourself talking about the most? What do you orient your life around? What is it, or who is it, that determines your activities? Who is the object of your love? Is the answer the LORD God?

In Christ,

John

[IslandRose]

Dear John,

Always wanted to write that.....

You certainly are a man of many words. I have just a few:

IR

[eric]

Hey John, you wrote.

Being in the financial services business

I'm glad I dont have to borrow any do-ra-me from you, cuz by the time I left your office I would have forgotten what I had gone in there for. you sure can speechify.

only kidding John and welcome to the boards.

[refugepsa91]

:il: I have a feeling your welcome and loved too :il:

just keep speaking with your heart and not your lips and you will be a great addition to these boards My lips get in the way sometimes too :oww:

Love and Blessings,

Angel

[RGR]

Welcome aboard, friend!!!

[tsth]

Dear John,

Thank you for your above post. It was a ministering to me and my husband. I sent it on to him this morning, to read. We are currently speaking and experiencing these very things in our lives, and your words were exhortation to us.

We are currently undergoing a testing in this very issue. See Below:

Up In the Air-A Prayer Request

P.S. - Your humility is very commendable and bears witness of His indwelling.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[WayneB]

What a privilege it is to have a brother in Christ share his innermost thoughts with his brethren. I appreciate you John and the depth and purity of your waters. It was bad day yesterday

[traveller]

Amen John! Awesome word brother!

When someone tells me "I do not have enough time", I wonder if the person who says this realizes that almost everyone says "I do not have enough time". It seems that nobody has enough time. Ponder this: What if God were to say to me, "I do not have enough/any time for you". There is never "enough time"-there is always more that we want to do than there is time to do it. Glorifying God means setting aside what we want to do, or feel that "we need to do", in order to do what the LORD God wants us to do. And part of this is getting to know Him through His word-his revelation of Himself to us. This means setting priorities-making God's glory your main priority, even if that means separating yourself from the hustle/bustle and time pressures of this fast-paced world to spend time with God-worshipping Him,praising Him, thanking Him, walking with Him. Is not God Himself much more important than the things of the world which He created? Is not God Himself more important than anything we can do for Him? True, sometimes we display His importance by what we try to do for Him, but always we should demonstrate his value to us by choosing to walk in fellowship with Him. What is your priority?

This reminds me of the Israelites wandering around in the wilderness. After the training and teaching and leading, the old generation dying off, the people finally leaned toward God. Then they were ready to go to the promised land. But, as soon as they were fed and fat and happy, they again rebelled. Took up foreign gods.

We seem to flounder in prosperity. We tend to forget the hard times and what it means to be truly dependant on God. What a lesson to learn to walk with God during the fat times of our life! It's so incredible that He is ever faithful to us.

John, I do hope to see more posts like this. I am grateful for your words. :il:

[eric]

Your post has already borne fruit, John, tsth, (Suzanne) has revealed a prayer request which has had much response from her w/b brothers and sisters. Praise His Mighty Name. and may God bless Suzanne and her husband.

eric