Articles
Is the Lord First in Your Life?
Jesus asked a man to give up his riches, and come and follow Him. However, "when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich" (Luke 18:23). This man was unwilling to make the necessary sacrifice to serve the Lord, in other words, he loved his money more than he loved Christ. Does the Lord require that we make sacrifices today to serve Him? Yes‚ He does. Jesus said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
To put Christ FIRST in one's life means making sacrifices. Paul said, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). The very life of a Christian is one of sacrificial service unto God Almighty. Many folks today do not follow Christ because they, like the rich ruler, are unwilling to make the necessary sacrifices. Many love their jobs, sports, ungodly living, and even family more than they do the Lord. Let's notice two great examples of those that made sacrifices to serve God.
Moses gave up wealth, prestige, honor, and possibly the throne of Egypt to serve God. "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward" (Hebrews 11:24-26).
Paul gave up his high position in the Jewish religion to serve Christ. Paul says he, "profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers" (Galatians 1:14) and "Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ" (Philippians 3:4-7).
Both Moses and Paul made some serious sacrifices to put the Lord first in their lives. If they could do it, so can we. If a person loves God with all their heart, they can and will put God first in their life, making whatever sacrifice is necessary. Are you willing to make sacrifices to follow Christ? Remember Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24). Why not start putting the Lord first in your life today!
