First Things FirstSample

Many of us are familiar with this verse from Proverbs.

We should trust in God and not lean on our own understanding, but how much easier is that to say than to do? Today as we meditate on what it means to place God first in our lives, I want to talk about the direction of overflow in our lives. You see, if we seek guidance or direction from things outside of us and try to satisfy the yearning for peace at the core of our souls, it’s an uphill flow. It takes a whole load of external ‘good stuff’ to get that assurance to drip feed into our souls, yet it very easily ebbs away when circumstances around us shift.

But, as we discussed yesterday, when we put Christ at the centre of our hearts, we gain a peace in our identity. That Christ-confidence spills out into other areas of our life. As we operate from an assurance that we are loved, we can trust God to direct us as we walk out dailylife with him. Trust comes more easily from a heart at peace, despite the circumstances around us.

We know the path we’re to walk on isn’t going to always be an easy one – in fact the Bible lets us know in Matthew 7:13-14 that it’s the opposite path to the one most people around us will take. I love how the different translations bring out an important depth from Matthew 7:14.In The Passion Translation it says, ‘the difficult way leads to eternal life’ or the NIV says ‘But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life...’ (emphasis added). The path is narrower and harder to follow, but there is LIFE to be found on it!

Forgive me for getting excited here – but this is the good news! We may face a narrow and difficult path when we follow Jesus, but when we put Him first in our lives, He will direct our path – He will tell us how to do it – He gives us His word as a lamp for our feet. This gift of this Bible in your hand – be it physical or digital – is the light he promised you for your path! (Psalm 119:105). What a promise.

My prayer is that as you read these verses today and where you may have seen a duty or a challenge in putting God first, you would feel a new release of freedom. That as you choose to lean on Him, His love, His goodness will guide you in a better way than you could ever imagine.

Questions:

1. How does this passage from Proverbs challenge our conventional way of making decisions or seeking guidance? What is the significance of wholeheartedly trusting God rather than relying on our own understanding?
2. How do Proverbs 3:5-6 and Matthew 6:33 complement each other in our pursuit of a life centred on God? Does reading these verses together change how you understand them?
3. What do you think stands in the way of you giving over control to God in your life? Does it make it easier to give control over to God, knowing that there is a reward for following God’s path (Matthew 7:13-14), and help along your way (Psalm 119:105)?