Make Christ your first priority.
Recently, while listening to a podcast by Fr. Mike Schmitz, I was inspired by his discussion of how to order life’s various demands. Citing Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides,” Fr. Mike suggested that we simply must “make Christ our first priority, and then everything else will fall into proper place.”
In the first reading this weekend (Isaiah 45:1, 4–6), we hear, “I am the LORD, and there is no other, there is no God besides me.” We, believers, know there is only one God, but this scripture also means that nothing else in our lives should take precedence over Him. We must honor God above all things. Furthermore, our Responsorial Psalm (96:1, 3, 4–5, 7–8, 9–10) is a call to direct action, reminding us to “Give the Lord glory and honor.” Still, in the Gospel (Matthew 22:15–21), Jesus says, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” The coin bears Caesar’s image, but we bear the image of God; we belong to Him.
Because we belong to God, we honor Him by selflessly giving Him our time, talents, attention, relationships, choices, and monetary gifts. Are we always giving Him our best—or merely our leftovers?
This reminds me of the “Widow’s Mite” story, a great scriptural illustration of Fr. Mike’s principle, “Make Christ our first priority, and then everything else will fall into its proper place.” In Mark 12:41–44 and Luke 21:1–4, Jesus watches people place their offerings into the Temple treasury. The wealthy people contribute substantial amounts, but a poor widow puts in two small coins. Jesus says, “She, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood” (Mark 12:44). Although her amount is comparatively small, the priority is far greater. The widow puts God before herself, giving not from her surplus but from what she needs to live. She puts her total trust in God. As we make God our priority, we are called not to be stingy with our money.
We are also called not to be stingy with our love. Is unconditional love always easy? Isn’t it much easier to be joyful, kind, and loving when we are around the people we love and when everything is going well? The real test comes when life stresses us out, and we bring our dark sides, frustrations, conflicts, and differences into relationships and into how we treat one another. The bible tells us to love our neighbors and our enemies, but also the crabby people and those who don’t vote the same way we do. These are opportunities when keeping God’s love a priority is a real challenge. Sometimes, loving them may seem impossible.
Finally, there is prayer. When it seems impossible to love, turn to God in prayer and ask Him for the strength to love with His love. Make it a daily priority to come to God in prayer. Give Him your best, not your leftovers.
