Priorities and Sacrifice

Luke 12:34

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

When we are a child, our brain rules our motives.  As we age hopefully our heart will become part of our decision making process.  As it says in Luke, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  If I find my treasure in material things then I’m going to put money ahead of all things.  My priorities will be numbered with #1 being determined by how much I will make or what will that get me.  The sacrifices I make will most likely be those of relationships, memories and love.

As I have aged, I realize what is a priority to me.  I am abundantly aware of the sacrifices I have to make.  I treasure relationships.  The treasures in my life are people I love.  That is where my heart is, those are who I sacrifice for.

Romans 5:8

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I am a sinner!  No doubt about that.  I strive each day to do better.  Yet, God showed his love for me, yes me, a sinner.  Sacrificing his son, Christ, and allowing Him to die on the cross for me.

Now, since my treasure is relationships, my family, my husband, my children and grand children have my heart.  To sacrifice them would be painful.  I will sacrifice for them but I would find it hard to sacrifice them, but God did that for me.  So, to make Christ a priority in my life will take sacrifice from me.  Sacrifice that I’m willing and eager to give.  My time, my money and my pride.

Philippians 2:4

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Priorities and sacrifice usually do not go together.  Our priorities stem from our own interests.  What do I enjoy, what do I want, how will that make me feel and the list continues.  Sacrifice usually stems from the needs of others.  What do they enjoy, what do they want, how will that make them feel and the list continues.

So could it read… Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Making your priority Christ, sacrificing for others and allowing love to be your treasure.

I list my priorities, with the top 2 being Christ and family.  I love them beyond and they are my treasure and my heart is filled.  To sacrifice for them is to put Christ above myself and put their interest before my own.

Lord, I praise You and thank You for in every way filling my life.  Forgiving me when I fail and walking with me when I get back up.  I thank You for being faithful to me while I learn to be faithful to you.  I ask You Lord to speak firmly to me as I list out my priorities and make it clear the sacrifices I must make.  Amen!