We need to put first things first
1. Prayer for those in authority
1 Timothy 2, v 1 - 4,
I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. For kings and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our saviour, Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (KJV)
Are these prayers first in your prayer life? We are responsible for praying for those in authority i.e country, local authority/ county, workplace, anyone/ system that God has given authority over us.
Ungodly rules can make it difficult to lead a quiet and peaceful life and to live godly. The reason some Christians find it challenging to live a honest life in some countries is because of corrupt and ungodly leadership.
It is in our own interest to pray for anything that can affect us. We will be held responsible for what happens as Christians if we do not pray.
2. Make peace with others
Matthew 5, v, 23 & 24
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, Leave thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. (KJV)
God wants us to be reconciled first to our brothers before we give our gifts. Peace with others first before offerings/ gifts. We need to prioritise making peace with those that have anything against us.
3. Seek the Kingdom of God
Matthew 6, v 31, Therefore take no thought saying , What shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek, for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.(KJV)
From this verse, we are not to fill our thought life with what shall we eat, or what shall be drink? , trying to make ends meet, but we are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. I believe that one reason why some Christians are not kingdom minded is because their thought life is consumed with the affairs of this life. Remember that the bible says that as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he (Prov 23.7).
4. Judge yourself - not others
Matthew 7, v 1-5
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged, and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother?s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye and behold a beam is in thine own eye?
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote of thy brothers eye.(KJV)
We are to first judge ourselves before pointing fingers to others. In any conflict or misunderstanding, lets first examine ourselves and ensure that nothing within us is actually causing the problem.
5. Love God first
Matthew 22, v 37 - 38
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 and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment and great commandment.(KJV)
The first commandment is to love God.
But whoso keepth his word in him, verily is the love of God perfected, hereby know we that we are in him. 1John 2, v 4.
The Love we have for God should be reflected in our keeping His word and should hold us back from doing things our flesh would like to do.
In summary, we need to pray for those in authority, make peace with others, seek the kingdom of God, judge ourselves , and Love God first.
Lets put first things first. God is a God of order, and when things are out of order we will not get the desired result.