## Foundations of the Family: Priorities

## Luke 10:38-42

* The big pressure of today - time.

1. The most valuable of my possessions.

2. How to spend it - Psalms 90:10-12; Ephesians 5:15-16.

* Time must be prioritized.

1. We all are given the same amount of time.

2. "He who can master the minutes will master a life."

* Priorities are the key to yes and no.

I. Knowing Our Priorities

A. First, Our Relationship with God:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mat 6:33)

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Mat 22:37)

B. Next, Our Relationship with Our Family.

1. Our Mate:

“Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” (Eph 5:24-25)

“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” (Eph 5:31)

2. Our Children:

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph 6:4)

“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deu 6:5-7)

3. Our Parents:

“Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Eph 6:2-3)

C. Our Church Ministry:

“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Heb 10:24-25)

D. Our Vocation:

“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1 Tim 5:8)

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (2 Th 3:10)

“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Gen 3:19)

E. Others:

“For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Rom 13:9) . F. Personal Renewal:

“And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.” (Mark 6:31)

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isa 40:31)

II. Establishing Our Priorities

A. Priorities are priorities.

1. God expects us to fulfill all of His priorities.

2. Bob Jones, Sr. once said, "Duties never conflict."

B. Priorities are interactive.

1. One priority will help us fulfill another.

2. To be the proper husband and father we must have a right relationship to God.

3. We can have no ministry if we are not fulfilling our priorities to our families.

4. Some have said...

a. I don't have time to come to church, I have too much to do.

b. I work all the time I don't have time to do anything else.

c. There just aren't enough hours in the day for me to get done all that I need to do.

d. Do not be deceived!

e. Warning to young families.

C. Priorities and practical helps

1. Choice of what is of Eternal value

2. Choice of Best over good

3. Eliminate time wasters

4. Focus - life is short what we do for Christ we must do now!

III. Knowing The Priority!

A. What it is - God.

“But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42)

1. One thing -time.

2. Chosen - decision.

3. Not taken away - eternal.

B. What it does - prioritizes all else

1. Sensitive to His spirit and others - “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psa 37:4)

2. Wisdom -

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5)

3. Self-control -

“Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Gal 5:23)

4. Grace -

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Phil 2:13)

- Violated priorities create conflict.
- This conflict is God's attention getter.
- No one else can set your priorities-not even you.
- Only God can balance our priorities.
- Dedicate some time with Him for this purpose.