As modern society seems to be constantly pulling us in different directions, the task of sorting out our priorities is essential. What is important? What is urgent? What should be given the most attention? Examining the life of Jesus, we find a man whose priorities were unwavering and were always aligned with God’s will. As members of His church, we have been called to match our priorities to Christ’s, and must ensure that our lives reflect the mission, values, and character of the Lord.
First, it is obvious that Jesus prioritized the proclamation of the truth. From the time He began His earthly ministry, Jesus made it abundantly clear His purpose was to preach. Moving with His followers from place to place, the Lord Jesus was committed to heralding out the message (Mark 1:38). This commitment to truth was evident from His teachings, His parables, and His confrontations with the religious leaders of His day. Often sacrificing comfort, rest, and safety, Christ chose instead to bear witness to the truth (Mark 3:20-21; John 10:27-31; 18:37). Even after He ascended from the earth, He continued this work through His apostles, the men whom He had specially chosen and equipped to continue the task of proclaiming the truth (Mark 3:14; John 14:26; 16:13). If we are to match the priorities of Jesus, then we must be faithful to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). Especially when it is challenging or unpopular, we must hold up the message of truth to facilitate the process of making disciples (Matt. 28:18-20; 2 Tim. 2:2). We should instruct the people in our communities, workplaces, and homes, and we ought to be eager to support those who do the same.
Second, we know Jesus prioritized the Father’s will. Throughout His life on earth, Jesus continually emphasized the importance of submitting to the will of His Father. Whether as a boy of twelve, or a man in his thirties, Jesus consistently made His life about the Father’s work (Luke 2:49; John 4:34). Even amid intense suffering, His resolve was unwavering. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39). This complete submission to the Father was not easy—He knew it would lead to His betrayal and ultimately His death on the cross. Yet, He humbled Himself and was obedient, without hesitation (Phil. 2:8; Heb. 5:8-9). Too often, we are more concerned with our own desires and ambitions than submitting to God’s purposes for our lives. Jesus modeled for us a life of obedience, not based on personal gain or ease, but on trust in God’s perfect plan. Christ plainly taught His followers the need for obedience (Matt. 7:21; John 15:10; 1 John 5:3). This same sense of duty should be had by all who wear His name. It is as the Psalmist said, “I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart” (Ps. 40:8).
Third, Jesus always prioritized the needs of the people around Him. One of the most striking features of Jesus’ life was His deep compassion for others. Time and time again, we see Him setting aside His own concerns to care for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of others. In Mark 5, a woman with an issue of blood comes to Jesus for healing, interrupting the Lord and His party while they’re traveling to help a man’s daughter who is about to die. He is quite literally helping people on the way to helping people! He saw souls, not interruptions, and He devoted Himself to serve and minister to them. No wonder Peter summed up the Lord’s life saying, He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). But the physical and emotional aid was rendered as an introduction to much greater work. Jesus was not concerned with fame or popularity, but with the vital task of spreading the message of salvation (Luke 19:10). In Mark 6:34, we read that when Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, “so He began to teach them many things.” Jesus prioritized the hurting, the lost, and the broken—and we are called to do the same (Matt. 25:35-40). We must be willing to pause in our busy lives and focus on the needs of those around us, whether it’s a friend in crisis, a neighbor who is lonely, or a stranger in need. In our lives, we must seek to reflect Jesus’ heart for others, making time to serve, love, and teach, even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable.
The life of Jesus provides the perfect model for how we should prioritize our own lives. As members of His church, we must take pains to align our wills to the will of God and reflect the mission, values, and character of the Lord. Like Him, we are called to prioritize the preaching of truth, submitting to the will of our Heavenly Father, and meeting the needs of those around us. May we today set our sights on these same priorities, so that we may faithfully follow Jesus and bring glory to God in all that we do.